Some had questioned whether the 19-year-old would be able to live up to the hype and expectation and she answered those doubters emphatically, scoring a commanding 62.198 across the four apparatus to reaffirm her status as one of the all-time greats.

Biles' tally was over two points more than nearest challenger and compatriot Aly Raisman, a double gold medallist at London 2012, while Russia's Aliya Mustafina took home the bronze.

The American, who led her team to the Olympic title on Tuesday (August 9), came into the event as the overwhelming favourite but began with a slightly nervy vault, which still yielded a colossal 15.866 points.

Following a 14.966 on the uneven bars, by far her weakest apparatus, Mustafina briefly leapt to the top of the leaderboard after she scored 15.665 on the same equipment.

The Russian is the current Olympic champion on the apparatus and demonstrated exactly why with a superb routine which was handsomely rewarded with 15.666 points.

For a brief moment, Mustafina seemed capable of overhauling Biles but the American had the beam and the floor exercise left, two of her strongest disciplines, while Raisman was also in the hunt for what would have been a surprise gold after she scored 15.633 on vault.

The 19-year-old sensation, already regarded among the sport's best-ever despite her young age, managed 15.433 on the beam during the third rotation, leaving her perfectly poised to secure the title on the floor.

Team-mate Raisman, three years her senior, produced her own sparkling floor performance to give herself the feintest hope of topping the podium but with Biles still to come, she knew her chances were minimal.

Biles needed less than 13.000 points - a total she could probably manage blindfolded - on the floor, her preferred apparatus, and fittingly she was the last to perform.

From that point on, the score was academic as a breathtaking routine, during which she landed every tumble almost perfectly, was given 15.933 by the judges to ensure she left the Rio Olympic Arena with a gold medal draped deservedly round her neck.

"Someone could say I am the best, but it is different from person to person," Biles said. 

"I stay out of it and I just do my gymnastics.

"I'm not a celebrity. 

"I'm just Simone Biles, but it's amazing to be recognised for all of this success for myself and for team USA.

"I'm not the next Usain Bolt or Michael Phelps, I'm the first Simone Biles.

"To me, I'm just the same Simone - I just have two Olympic Gold medals now. 

"I feel like I did my job tonight."

Biles is targeting five gold medals at Rio 2016 and has the chance to add three more to the two she has already won during the apparatus finals.

Few would bet against her doing exactly that.