Biles stumbles on the balance beam, loses gold at the Paris Summer Olympics

The balance beam, considered one of the most difficult event in women’s gymnastics, had multiple competitors fall off the apparatus Monday, including Biles and Lee of Team USA.

Published: August 5, 2024 12:21pm

Simone Biles lost her footing and slipped off the balance beam Monday during the individual beam final, costing her the podium, a disappointing end to her competition at the Summer Olympics in Paris, CNN reports. 

In front of Biles, Italy’s Alice D’Amato took the gold with a score of 14.366. China’s Zhou Yaquin took silver with 14.100 and Italy’s Manila Esposita won bronze with a score of 14.00.

Later in the floor event, Biles lost the chance for gold by landing out of bounds twice – costing her six-tenths of a point, leaving Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade at the top with a score of 14.166 and Biles at silver with a score of 14.133, the news outlet also reported.

Still, Biles, at 27, the oldest American gymnast to win gold, last week won gold in the team event with Team USA, the vault final and the individual all-around competition, CNN said.

She is the most decorated American Olympic gymnast in history, with 11 medals including seven gold.

The balance beam, considered one of the most difficult event in women’s gymnastics, had multiple competitors fall off the apparatus that day, including Team USA teammate Sunisa Lee, who lost her footing during her routine. 

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