Simone Biles faltered in her last routine at the Paris Olympics, with a heavily wrapped left calf, but will still leave the Games with a silver medal in the floor event. Fellow American Jordan Chiles came through with a shocking bronze medal, even though celebrations had already begun with another athlete.
Silver medalist Simone Biles the U.S. and bronze medalist, Jordan Chiles of the U.S. watch the scoreboard during the women’s artistic gymnastics individual floor exercise final at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Aug. 5, 2024.
Morry Gash/AP
Biles, who scored a 14.133, brings her total Olympic medal count to 11 overall, seven of which are gold, including four total from the Paris Games.
Biles trailed Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade, who scored a 14.166 to take her first gold of the Games. She also has a gold on vault from Tokyo.
Simone Biles the U.S. competes in the women’s artistic gymnastics individual floor exercise final at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Aug. 5, 2024.
Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Gold medalist Rebeca Andrade of Brazil celebrates on the podium with silver medalist Simone Biles of the U.S and bronze medalist Jordan Chiles of the U.S. following the women’s artistic gymnastics individual floor exercise final at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Aug. 5, 2024.
Mike Blake/Reuters
In a bit of confusion after teammate Jordan Chiles’ score was first posted as only good enough for fifth place, a review led to an increase and the bronze medal. Romanian Ana Barbosu had already begun celebrating the bronze before Chiles’ adjusted score was posted.
Chiles’ coaches challenged the scoring on one of her skills which led to the 0.1 increase, jumping her ahead of Romanians Sabrina Maneca-Voinea and Barbosu.
Silver medalist Simone Biles the U.S. hugs bronze medalist, Jordan Chiles of the U.S. during the women’s artistic gymnastics individual floor exercise final at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Aug. 5, 2024.
Peter Cziborra/Reuters
Jordan Chiles the U.S. competes in the women’s artistic gymnastics individual floor exercise final at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Aug. 5, 2024.
Amanda Perobelli/Reuters
Silver medalist Simone Biles and bronze medalist Jordan Chiles of the U.S. bow to gold medalist Rebeca Andrade of Brazil on the victory podium following the women’s artistic gymnastics individual floor exercise final at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Aug. 5, 2024.
Hannah Mckay/Reuters
In her final routine of the Summer Games, Biles started with a significantly higher difficulty rating than her competitors, which helped her stay in podium position after she stepped out of bounds twice and was docked 0.6 points.
She fell backward on one of her tumbling passes in warmups and had her calf re-taped. The injury had hampered her at times throughout the Paris competitions.
Rebeca Andrade of Brazil competes in the women’s artistic gymnastics individual floor exercise final at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Aug. 5, 2024.
Hannah Mckay/Reuters
Simone Biles the U.S. steps out of bounds as she competes in the women’s artistic gymnastics individual floor exercise final at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Aug. 5, 2024.
Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters
Simone Biles the U.S. competes in the women’s artistic gymnastics individual floor exercise final at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Aug. 5, 2024.
Mike Blake/Reuters
The medal came just hours after Biles finished a disappointing fifth in the balance beam final due to a fall. She had been aiming to win her eighth career gold medal in that event.
The U.S. women had a sterling performance in gymnastics in the Paris Games taking home gold in the all-around team final last Tuesday, followed by a gold for Biles and a bronze for Suni Lee in the individual all-around competition on Thursday.
American gymnasts Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles shocked the world with their impressive performances in the floor finals at the Tokyo Olympics, earning silver and bronze medals, respectively. Both athletes had already made a name for themselves in the gymnastics world, but their success in the floor finals solidified their status as two of the top gymnasts in the world.
Simone Biles, widely regarded as one of the greatest gymnasts of all time, entered the floor finals as the favorite to win gold. However, a rare mistake during her routine cost her the top spot on the podium. Despite the disappointment of not winning gold, Biles showed incredible resilience and determination by bouncing back to secure the silver medal. Her performance was a testament to her skill, talent, and mental toughness.
Jordan Chiles, on the other hand, was a relative underdog in the competition. The 20-year-old gymnast had been overshadowed by her more famous teammates, including Biles, but she proved her worth with a stunning routine that earned her the bronze medal. Chiles’ performance was a breakthrough moment in her career and showcased her potential as a future star in the sport.
The success of both Biles and Chiles in the floor finals highlighted the depth of talent on the American gymnastics team. With Biles leading the way as a seasoned veteran and Chiles emerging as a rising star, the future looks bright for Team USA in gymnastics.
The unexpected results in the floor finals also served as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of gymnastics. Even the most accomplished athletes can make mistakes, while lesser-known competitors can rise to the occasion and shine on the world stage. Biles and Chiles’ performances were a testament to the sport’s ability to surprise and inspire fans around the globe.
In conclusion, Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles’ silver and bronze finishes in the floor finals at the Tokyo Olympics were a testament to their talent, hard work, and determination. Their performances captivated audiences and showcased the incredible skill and athleticism of gymnasts at the highest level of competition. As they continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in gymnastics, Biles and Chiles are sure to inspire future generations of athletes to dream big and reach for their goals.
