By American gymnastics icon Simone Biles missed out on a medal in the balance beam final after an unexpected fall during her routine. The 27-year-old star, who had previously won bronze medals on this apparatus in the 2016 and 2020 Games, slipped off the beam during her acrobatic series, dashing hopes for another podium finish.
Biles, adorned in a crystal-studded blue-and-white leotard, was more than halfway through her performance when she lost her balance, eliciting a collective gasp from the packed Bercy Arena. The crowd, which included notable spectators like NFL legend Tom Brady, watched as Biles hopped off the beam onto the mat below.
The slip resulted in a score of 13.100 for Biles, tying her with teammate Sunisa Lee for fourth place. The visibly frustrated Biles rolled her eyes during the extended wait for her score, realizing she would not be adding to her impressive Olympic medal collection in this event.
In a surprising twist, Italy’s Alice D’Amato claimed the gold medal with a score of 14.366, marking Italy’s first-ever medal on the balance beam. China’s Zhou Yaqin secured silver with a 14.100, while another Italian, Manila Esposito, took bronze, completing a historic day for Italian gymnastics.
Sunisa Lee, who entered the competition with high hopes for a gold medal on her favorite apparatus, also faced disappointment. The 21-year-old fell during her acrobatic series, mirroring Biles’ misfortune. Despite this setback, Lee will leave Paris with three medals, a remarkable achievement considering her recent struggle with chronic kidney-related diseases.
While the balance beam final proved challenging, Biles still has an opportunity to add to her Olympic legacy in the floor exercise final later in the day. Known for her dominance in this event, Biles has never lost a major international competition on floor, including her gold medal performance in Rio de Janeiro eight years ago.
The gymnastics community remains in awe of Biles’ resilience and talent. As Lee remarked, “She’s the G.O.A.T., so she’ll be amazing.” With 10 Olympic medals already to her name, including seven golds, Biles is on the cusp of tying Czechoslovakia’s Vera Caslavska for the second-most medals by a female gymnast in Olympic history.
As speculation swirls about her future in the sport, Biles has left the door open for a potential return at the Los Angeles Olympics, tantalizing fans with the comment, “Never say never.” Whether this marks the end of her illustrious Olympic career or not, Simone Biles continues to captivate the world with her extraordinary skills and indomitable spirit, even in the face of unexpected challenges.
The Associated Press
