Paris Olympics Memorable Moments: Simone Biles was the star but the spotlight reached many faces

 Simone Biles stole show at Paris Olympics with a captivating comeback that h everyone watching everything she did both in and out of gymnasium.

All eyes were on Biles as she won four medals, but spotlight was bright eugh to highlight new names, new faces and some unlikely new stars. Paris Games will be remembered for breathtaking venues , unprecedented accessibility and Sop Dogg taking a starring role in NBC's record-smashing cover.

Paris introduced world to “ Pommel Horse Guy” and “ Real John Wick” and a meme-making performance by an Australian professor in Olympic debut of breaking.

French swimmer Léon Marchand delivered in his home Olympics with a Michael Phelps-like performance , winning five medals, four of m gold. Ilona Maher angled for a shot on reality TV show “Love Island” after leing United States to a heart-stopping late victory that gave U.S. its first ever a medal, a bronze, in rugby sevens.

ah Lyles was crowned fastest man in world for winning 100 meters , but after he finished third in 200 — his first loss in his favorite event since Tokyo Olympics three years ago — he revealed he h tested positive for COVID-19 . Sha’Carri Richardson chased down two competitors in rain to end her first Olympics with a relay gold after settling for silver in 100.

United States won medal count — 121 of m heed into Sunday's final day of competition, 37 of m gold — and Americans again prevailed in men's basketball and women's soccer.

Here's a look at some of top moments of Paris Olympics:

Biles returned to Olympics three years after she pulled out of multiple events at Tokyo Games for mental health reasons and won four medals, three of m gold.

She was most popular attraction in Paris and competed in front of celebrity-packed crowds. Those who couldn't sit in stands with Tom Cruise, Spike Lee, Ariana Grande and Ly Gaga tuned in from afar as NBC said 34.7 million viewers across its platforms watched Biles le United States to team gold.

Next up for greatest gymnast in Olympic history is a 30-stop “Gold Over America Tour” for GOAT.

Nine days of competition wrapped up with Americans barely pulling off le in gold-medal standings in swimming, needing a victory in last race of Olympics to do so.

U.S. finished with just eight golds , its fewest since 1988 Seoul Games and one ahe of its biggest rival, Australia.

“It’s one of worst performances in history as a U.S. team,” said Phelps, most decorated Olympian ever.

rest of world totaled more victories (20) than United States and Australia combined, first time that’s happened since 1996 Atlanta Games.

34 medals and 14 golds for Americans were ir best showing in track and field in a n-boycotted Games since early 20th century, when re were more events and fewer countries.

And that came despite disappointment of Richardson t winning gold in 100, Lyles losing 200 after his COVID-19 diagsis and men's 4x100 meter relay fumbling its way to a disqualification.

relay performance was so b that Carl Lewis, a nine-time gold medalist, called for top-to-bottom changes within American track and field program.

But U.S. closed out strong: Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone set ar world record in again winning 400 hurdles, and she n was part of 4x400 relay team that she and Gabby Thomas led to a runaway win on final night at Ste de France.

American men won gold in same race in a much closer finish about 15 minutes earlier.

14 golds by U.S. are most in a n-boycotted Olympics since 1968.

Stephen Curry ded more hardware to his legacy as he finally won an Olympic gold medal.

Curry scored 24 points and led U.S. to a 98-87 win over France in men's basketball final. It was fifth consecutive gold medal for U.S. — and 17th in 20 all-time appearances for Americans at Games.

Kevin Durant, first four-time men’s gold medalist in Olympic basketball history, scored 15 for Americans, as did Devin Booker. And LeBron James, wearing metallic gold sneakers, scored 14 for U.S. as he won his fourth Olympic medal and third gold.

Victor Wembanyama, in his first Olympic final, scored 26 points for France and was in tears after game.

U.S. women’s soccer team won its fifth Olympic gold medal by beating Brazil 1-0 in final. Americans h t won gold since 2012 London Olympics.

gold closed out an undefeated run to title in ir first international campaign under new coach Emma Hayes.

At final whistle, U.S. players celebrated as Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in U.S.A.” played in stium.

Women's boxing was dragged into culture wars over misconceptions involving two of competitors.

Imane Khelif of Algeria and Li Yu-ting of Taiwan were heavily scrutinized because of a Russian-dominated International Boxing Association’s decision to disqualify m from last year’s world championships, claiming both failed an eligibility test for women’s competition that IBA officials have declined to answer basic questions about.

Khelif endured intense scrutiny in ring and online abuse from around world over misconceptions about her womanhood and still won gold in women’s welterweight division.

Lin won a gold medal in women’s fearweight division one night later to cap her four-fight unbeaten run through Paris by winning Taiwan’s first Olympic boxing gold medal.

“I’m a woman like any or woman. I was born as a woman, I live as a woman and I am qualified," Khelif said after her victory.

International Olympic Committee took unprecedented step last year of permanently banning IBA from Olympics following years of concerns about its governance, competitive fairness and financial transparency. IOC has called sex tests that sport’s governing body imposed on two boxers irretrievably flawed .

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