Paris Olympics 2024: Algeria's Kaylia Nemour storms ahead in gymnastics medal hunt

Teenager dazzles on uneven bars at Bercy Arena

Algeria's Kaylia Nemour competes in the balance beam event of the artistic gymnastics women's qualification during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Bercy Arena in Paris, on July 28, 2024. (Photo by Loic VENANCE / AFP)

Kaylia Nemour will be aiming for gold in women's artistic gymnastics at the Bercy Arena in Paris. AFP

Kaylia Nemour of Algeria has qualified for women's all-around finals at the Paris Olympics. EPA

American gymnastics superstar Simone Biles had an excellent qualification round at the Paris Olympics. EPA

Spectator watch Simone Biles's routine at a fan zone at the Hotel de Ville. AP

Simone Biles excelled during qualification despite an injury scare. AP

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Algerian teenager Kaylia Nemour was on top of her game on the uneven bars as she qualified for the apparatus and the women's all-around finals at the Paris Olympics.

The 17-year-old French-born athlete scored an impressive 15.600 points for her bars routine at the Bercy Arena.

China's Qiu Qiyuan, 17, who beat Nemour to gold at last year's world championships in Antwerp, was second with a score of 15.066 points. Defending Olympic champion Nina Derwael of Belgium, a former two-time world champion, qualified fourth with 14.733.

American gymnastics superstar Simone Biles, nursing a minor injury, could only manage 14.433 on the apparatus which is her weakest discipline. The four-time Olympic champion finished ninth to just miss out on the eight-woman final.

Biles was still good enough to top the qualifying standings in all-around, vault and floor exercise, and was second on beam behind China's Zhou Yaquin.

For Nemour, it was a good start to the Olympics, but believe she still has work to do.

"It's good, but could be better," said Nemour.

"It was a lot of pressure because it's the first apparatus, first Olympics, and I'm starting with the bars, my goal.

"But I'm happy, it went really well. There is still a week before the final and I still have room to improve."

Nemour had a few errors on floor (13.160) and beam (13.200) but her overall total of 55.966 earned a place in Thursday's all-around final.

The teenager has a special connection with France. She was born in the country, grew up and trained there. However, she decided to switch to Algeria - the country of her father - after a long-drawn dispute with the French gymnastics federation.

After deciding to represent Algeria, Nemour has been climbing the ladder of success. At last year’s world championships, she won a silver medal on uneven bars - the first world medal by a gymnast for an African nation. She is also an African all-around champion and has an element named after her in the Code of Points.

Despite her decision to not represent France, the crowd at the Bercy Arena cheered for her.

"I didn't expect that," she said. "Obviously, it's stressful but overall I'm happy with that performance.

"I can still improve things. I have three days left to work, so I'm just going to make the most of it."

Nemour will be aiming to earn to win a first gymnastics medal for Algeria and Africa.