Paris Olympics: Simone Biles stumbles on balance beam, fails to medal

Medal table | Olympic schedule | How to watch | Olympic news

PARIS — Simone Biles fell off the beam, a rare miscue here on Friday, that derailed what was headed to a four-gold-in-four-attempts competition at the 2024 Olympics.

Biles lost balance and slipped off the beam at the end of a combination. She recorded a 13.100 to finish fifth. It cost her a chance to collect an 11th career Olympics medal.

The good news?

She still has one more event to go — her beloved floor where she is the heavy favorite later Monday afternoon

Italy’s Alice A’mato took gold with a score of 14.366. China’s Zhou Yaqin took silver (14.100) and Italy’s Manila Esposito (14.00) wound up with the bronze.

American Sunia Lee, finished in sixth place with a score of 13.100 after slipping and falling during her routine. She ended her Paris Games with three medals — a gold and two bronzes — and has won six medals overall across the past two Games. She is tied with Aly Raisman for third all-time among American female gymnasts in total medals.

Monday is potentially the final day of competition in Biles’ illustrious Olympic career. She’s been a massive star here in Paris and ticket resellers outside Bercy Arena were seeking around 1,000 euros ($1,100 U.S.) to desperate fans. Once again, numerous celebrities and dignitaries came to see the Simone Show, including NFL legend Tom Brady.

The 27-year-old in her third Summer Games cautioned to “never say never” about returning for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles despite the rarity of a gymnast competing into her 30s. Biles was already the oldest American female Olympic gymnast since the 1950s.

As Biles has again proven here in Paris, though, never write her off.

With 10 career Olympic medals, including seven golds, she’s the most decorated American gymnast in history. (Shannon Miller has seven total medals.) She still has a chance to win an 11th career Olympic medal, which would tie her with 1960s star Vera Caslavska of Czechoslovakia for second most all-time amongst female gymnasts.

While she will not reach the 18 total medals of Larisa Latynina of the Soviet Union who competed in the 1965, 1960 and 1964 Games, the sport is far more competitive, especially on individual disciplines then it was at that time.