Gymnast Kaylia Nemour makes history for Algeria at France's expense

But the gymnast who finished behind them in fourth may have been something of a surprise to casual gymnastics viewers. Kaylia Nemour snatched the qualification spot for Algeria thanks to a strong all-around performance and a world-class, field-destroying effort on the uneven bars.

The bars are rough for many teams at these Olympics; both Great Britain and France had near-catastrophic rotations there during the qualification process, and they're famously Biles's weakest event.

Nemour would be one of the strongest bar performers on earth even if her competition was strong, but with the field relatively weak in Paris, her efforts look simply magical. She put up a 15.600 score on the event in qualification — one of the highest scores of the day in any event.

"It's good, but it could be better," Nemour said of her score. "But I'm happy, it went really well. There's still a week before the final and I still have room to improve."

Nemour will become the first African gymnast to win a medal if she tops the field at the individual bar competition later this week. 

But Nemour, born and raised in the Loire Valley, very nearly competed for France instead.

Nemour was registered as a French youth athlete throughout her training years, but a knee injury and a club dispute pushed her onto a new path. Nemour suffered through several surgeries on her knee before becoming age-eligible for senior elite competition. Her doctor cleared her to compete for France after intensive recovery, but the French Gymnastics Federation didn't believe she was ready. It demanded that Nemour abandon her coach — and her home — and train with their specialists in Paris in exchange for a spot on the senior French team. Uncomfortable with this trade and furious with the French Gymnastics Federation for hindering her senior career, Nemour decided to represent Algeria, the nation of her father, instead.

The decision has paid off for Nemour. She'll compete for Algeria in both the individual all-around final and the uneven bars event final this week. But it's been disastrous for France, who failed to make any finals after a rough performance in qualifying.

Had Nemour competed for France, her qualification scores would've lifted it into the team final.

France's loss is Algeria's undisputed gain. Nemour has a chance to make history for the country — and for the African continent as a whole.

Nemour will compete in the all-around individual final on Aug. 1. She is expected to perform well there but not expected to medal. Nemour returns for her best shot at a medal at the uneven bars event final on Aug. 4.