Simone Biles made a return to the Tokyo Olympics to take the bronze medal.
The world’s most famous gymnast finished third in the beam final.
Biles returned to participate in the beam finals for the USA.
The final standings were:
1 CHN GUAN Chenchen 14.633
2 CHN TANG Xijing 14.233
3 USA BILES Simone 14.000
4 CAN BLACK Elsabeth 13.866
5 USA LEE Sunisa 13.866
6 JPN ASHIKAWA Urara 13.733
7 BRA SARAIVA Flavia 13.133
8 ROC URAZOVA Vladislava 12.733
Following the medal, Biles refused to comment on whether she would even be involved in the Paris 2024 Olympics in three years time.
‘ just need to process this whole thing first. I need to process things.’
Biles also spoke about the challenges she goes through as an athlete, and how she felt about winning the bronze medal.
You guys have no idea what we are going through. We are entertainers but we are also human.
I was just went out and did it for me and whatever happens happens. I had fun. I had nerves. But I felt pretty good.
Biles recently withdrew from three Olympics finals to focus on her mental health.
“FOR ANYONE SAYING I QUIT. I DIDN’T QUIT MY MIND & BODY ARE SIMPLY NOT IN SYNC. I DON’T THINK YOU REALIZE HOW DANGEROUS THIS IS … NOR DO I HAVE TO EXPLAIN WHY I PUT MY HEALTH FIRST. PHYSICAL HEALTH IS MENTAL HEALTH.
Biles explained she was suffering from ‘twisties’.
“LITERALLY CAN NOT TELL UP FROM DOWN. IT’S THE CRAZIEST FEELING EVER. NOT HAVING AN INCH OF CONTROL OVER YOUR BODY. WHAT’S EVEN SCARIER IS SINCE I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE I AM IN THE AIR, I ALSO HAVE NO IDEA HOW I AM GOING TO LAND. OR WHAT I AM GOING TO LAND ON. HEAD/HANDS/FEET BACK… I DIDN’T HAVE A BAD PERFORMANCE AND QUIT. I’VE HAD PLENTY OF BAD PERFORMANCES THROUGHOUT MY CAREER AND FINISHED COMPETITION. I SIMPLY GOT SO LOST MY SAFETY WAS AT RISK AS WELL AS A TEAM MEDAL.”
