Team USA women’s gymnastics stars Simone Biles and Sunisa Lee came up empty in the balance beam final on Monday.
Sunisa Lee competes in the artistic gymnastics women’s balance beam final during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Bercy Arena in Paris, on August 5, 2024.
Loic Venance/AFP via Getty Images
After Simone Biles secured her third gold medal of the Paris Olympics on Saturday, she and Lee both notched identical scores of 13.1000, which wasn’t enough to make the podium.
Italy’s Alice D’Amato secured gold with a 14.366, Yaqin Zhou of China scored 14.100 for silver, edging out Manila Esposito by just .1, who took bronze.
Simone Biles of Team United States warms up prior to the Artistic Gymnastics Women’s Balance Beam Final on day ten of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on August 05, 2024 in Paris, France.
Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Lee, who earned her sixth career Olympic medal on Sunday with bronze in the uneven bars final, went third in the rotation and scored a 13.100.
Biles, who scored a 14.733 in qualifying, tied her teammate with the exact same score — 13.100 — due to a .3 point penalty after she fell during the routine.
The 10-time Olympic medalist will compete in the women’s floor exercise final back in Bercy Arena later on Monday, along with teammate Jordan Chiles.
In a surprising turn of events, both Simone Biles and Suni Lee fell short of medals in the women’s gymnastics balance beam final at the Tokyo Olympics. Biles, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest gymnasts of all time, had been expected to dominate the competition. However, a rare mistake during her routine cost her a spot on the podium.
Biles, who had withdrawn from several events earlier in the Games citing mental health concerns, had returned to compete in the balance beam final. Despite her struggles, she showed incredible strength and determination throughout her routine. Unfortunately, a wobble on one of her skills led to a lower score than she had hoped for.
Suni Lee, who had won gold in the women’s all-around competition, also had a disappointing performance on the balance beam. Lee, who had been a strong contender for a medal, fell during her routine, which ultimately cost her a spot on the podium.
The unexpected results in the women’s balance beam final highlight the unpredictable nature of gymnastics competition. Even the most talented and experienced athletes can make mistakes under pressure. Biles and Lee’s performances serve as a reminder that gymnastics is a sport that requires not only physical skill but also mental toughness.
Despite their disappointment, both Biles and Lee have shown incredible resilience throughout the Games. Biles’ decision to prioritize her mental health and well-being has sparked important conversations about the pressures faced by elite athletes. Lee’s gold medal in the all-around competition was a historic moment for Asian American representation in gymnastics.
As the Tokyo Olympics come to a close, Biles and Lee’s performances will be remembered as moments of triumph and resilience in the face of adversity. While they may have fallen short of medals in the balance beam final, their impact on the sport of gymnastics and their legacy as two of the greatest athletes of their generation will endure.
