PARIS — The balance beam takes no prisoners, only numbers. Not even Simone Biles is immune. In an event final where medalling equated to mere survival, Biles joined two other women — including teammate Suni Lee — who fell off the beam entirely, along with three others who suffered major balance checks.
After falling on a flip layout, Biles stared intently at the scoreboard as Bercy Arena pumped dramatic music in to unnecessarily build the tension. Fans shouted, “We love you Simone,’’ as the wait continued for what seemed like forever. Finally Biles’ score of 13.100 flashed, sliding her out of medal contention.
Biles shrugged, her face grim with disappointment. It ends a streak of Olympic perfection, not only here in Paris but in all of Biles’ career. Here in Paris, she had won nothing but gold prior to the beam — for the team, in the all-around, and on vault — and previously had medaled in every single Olympic event final in which she entered.
Lee did not medal either, ending a perfect run for the U.S. as well. The Americans had previously picked up at least one piece of hardware in every day of competition.
Italy’s Alice D’Amato took gold, with China’s Yaqin Zhou earning silver and Manila Esposito, also of Italy, claiming the brone.
Biles, however, is not done. She will have to regroup quickly, for the floor exercise final later this afternoon. She and Jordan Chiles will compete where Biles will be heavily favored.
(Photo of Simone Biles after falling off the beam: Naomi Baker / Getty Images)
