Simone Biles faced an unexpected stumble at the Paris Summer Olympics, missing out on gold in two key events. Competing in the individual beam final, Biles faltered and fell off the apparatus, dashing her hopes for another gold. Italy’s Alice D’Amato seized the moment, winning gold, while China’s Zhou Yaqin took silver, and another Italian, Manila Esposito, claimed bronze. This marked a rare moment for Biles, who had been aiming to further solidify her legacy after a challenging journey following the Tokyo Olympics.
In the floor final, Biles performed brilliantly but made two out-of-bounds landings, leading to a six-tenths deduction. Her final score of 14.133 was just shy of Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade, who took gold with a score of 14.166.
An Extraordinary Performance Despite Setbacks
Despite these setbacks, Biles’ overall performance in Paris was nothing short of exceptional. She had already secured gold in the team event with Team USA, as well as in the individual all-around and vault final, continuing to set new records. With her 11 Olympic medals, including seven golds, she remains the most decorated American Olympic gymnast of all time. At 27, she also became the oldest American gymnast to win an Olympic gold medal.
Simone’s Reflections
Reflecting on her journey, Biles shared her pride in her accomplishments. “I accomplished way more than my wildest dreams – not just at this Olympics, but in this sport,” she stated, acknowledging the challenges she faced in recent years. “A couple years ago, I didn’t think I’d be back here at an Olympic Games, so competing and then walking away with four medals, I’m not mad about it. I’m pretty proud of myself.”
Looking Ahead
Biles had the chance to tie the record for the most Olympic gold medals won by a woman, held by swimmer Katie Ledecky and Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina, who both have nine. With this milestone still within reach, Biles will now look ahead to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, where she could make history once again.
