When Dipa Karmakar met Simone Biles: American gymnast wants Produnova to be renamed 'Karmakar vault'

New Delhi: Dipa Karmakar became a household name in India after she executed the Produnova act to perfection at Rio Olympics 2016.

While she went to Rio as an unheralded athlete, several youngsters now in Tripura want to become gymnasts, thanks to Dipa's brillliant show at the Games.

Not only Indian fans, but even world-class athletes, including Simone Biles were full of praise for Dipa for choosing the Produnova, which is also called the 'Vault of Death'.

Dipa also got a chance to meet Simone, who is regarded as one of the greatest athletes ever, just at the age of 19.

Sharing the memorable experience, Dipa said that it was a great moment and Simone told her that Produnova should be renamed as the 'Karmakar vault'.

"She is a champion and I got to meet her in Rio. She is incomparable, don't think any gymnast can match her. She told me that my routine on the vault should be called the `Karmakar vault', not Produnova. I was so happy that told myself I will work very hard and one day, hopefully, there will be a vault in my name too," Dipa told The Times of India.

In vault finals at Rio, the American won the gold medal with a score of 15.966 while the silver went to Russia’s Maria Paseka after her score of 15.253. Bronze was bagged by Switzerland’s Giulia Steingruber for her score of 15.216.

Dipa, who finished fourth with 15.066 points, missed the bronze medal by just 0.150 points.