Simone Biles recently spoke out following a disappointing and “odd” Olympic final in which she finished fifth in the Balance Beam event. The Team USA Olympian, who had already secured three gold medals and one silver at these games, missed out on a podium finish for the first time, after falling off the beam. The incident left her visibly frustrated, particularly with the crowd’s behavior during her performance.
Biles, 27, expressed her agitation during the event, saying, “Why are they all shushing? As soon as I’m going they’re like shushing so much.” This reaction came after she fell off the beam, which significantly impacted her score. Her teammate, Sunisa Lee, also fell off the beam during the final, and Biles later described the event as “odd,” citing the unusual silence and noise from ringtones and photo clickers. Biles commented, “The beam final is always the most stressful. Usually, we have music or background noise, and honestly, we do better in environments when there’s noise going on because it feels the most like practice.”
Despite the setback, Biles maintained her composure and professionalism. She scored 13.100 on the beam and later competed in the floor event, where she stepped out of bounds twice, resulting in a score of 14.133. This score earned her a silver medal, behind Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade, who scored 14.166. American gymnast Jordan Chiles secured the bronze after a successful appeal.
Reflecting on her final day of competition, Biles said, “Today has been absolutely wild. I’ve been competing here for a week or so now, so obviously exhaustion sets in now but we still had to go out and compete one more time today, and it’s such an honor to compete with these girls on the beam and floor.” She expressed pride in her performances and gratitude for the support she received, acknowledging that she had achieved more than she ever dreamed.
Biles also highlighted her journey from the 2020 Tokyo games, where she withdrew from several events due to mental health issues. “A couple of years ago I didn’t think I’d be back at an Olympic games so competing and walking away with four medals, I’m not mad about it, I’m pretty proud of myself and it’s always so exciting to compete,” she said. She also praised her rival and friend Rebeca Andrade, calling her “incredible” and a “queen,” and shared a heartwarming moment with her and Chiles on the podium.
Simone Biles’s resilience and sportsmanship continue to inspire fans worldwide, proving that even in the face of challenges, she remains a remarkable athlete and a role model.
