Rio 2016: Biles to close golden Games as United States flag bearer

Whatever concerns they might have had heading to the Olympics, the United States’ athletes felt at home in Rio.

Being the flag bearer in the Closing Ceremony has its privileges.

Four-time Olympic champion Simone Biles was selected to lead the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team into Sunday’s (Aug. 21) Closing Ceremony as flag bearer, as announced today by the United States Olympic Committee.

Simone Biles is very honored to be the USA flag bearer for the closing ceremony.

Besides being the first American gymnast to win four gold medals in one Olympics games, she also had a chance to meet and hug her crush, Zac Efron. Biles was the first US woman to win gold on the vault.

But, with Team USA in firm command of the medal count, there was certainly no shortage of options for bearing the flag. The victor of five medals in Rio, four of which were gold, will lead the Americans during Sunday night’s closing festivities.

Ibtihaj Muhammad, who won individual bronze and team bronze in fencing, became the first American athlete to both compete and claim a medal wearing the hijab of her Muslim faith.

Earlier in the day, the US women’s basketball team has won its sixth consecutive Olympic gold medal, routing Spain 101-72.

In the Olympic Stadium in track and field competition the women’s 4-by-100 relay is tonight.

“I’m afraid the flag is going to be too heavy for me”, the gymnast said.

According to NBC News, there are about to be a lot of babies named Simone out here thanks to recent Olympic gold medalists Simone Biles and Simone Manuel.