For Italy and Brazil, losing to Simone Biles’ US team at the Olympics still felt like a victory

By SAMUEL PETREQUIN The Associated Press

Rebeca Andrade, of Brazil, performs on the vault during the women's artistic gymnastics team finals at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Morry Gash]

PARIS (AP) — Watching the celebrations after the Paris Olympics women’s gymnastics team final Tuesday, it was impossible to tell who had won. Athletes from three nations erupted in cheers when the final scores flashed on the giant screens inside raucous Bercy Arena. As the legion of American fans started to chant “U.S.A! U.S.A!”, their Brazilian counterparts danced and waved blue, green and yellow flags. The Italians hugged each other warmly.