Simone Biles and Suni Lee missed out on more medals at the 2024 Summer Olympics as the gymnastics contenders failed to stay on the balance beam at the Paris Games.
Team USA superstar Biles made a typically exquisite start to the routine at the Bercy Arena, only to make a mistake which drew gasps from the crowd after a double lay-out.
2020 Olympic Games all-around gold medalist Lee had earlier suffered a rough fall, suffering the same fate as several of their rivals in the final.
“I don’t think we’ve ever seen Simone Biles fall off the beam at a major championship.” 😲#Olympics #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/3A6OHjGknt
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 5, 2024
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Biles beam results
Biles was evidently unhappy while speaking to her coach afterwards, with commentators speculating that her discontent may have related to the crowd.
“Simone was that far off that she was unable to regain and stay on,” 2012 Olympic Games bronze medallist Beth Tweddle told BBC Sport.
“She had a beautiful start… the whole routine, apart from the fall, was great. She would normally do a second lay-out but obviously felt she was off, so didn’t go for the second one.”
It isn’t to be for Simone Biles this time 💔
She finishes outside of the medal spots after falling off the beam 😩#Olympics #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/Ov6ChFi0do
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 5, 2024
Olympic floor final
The 27-year-old, who watched as Alice D’Amato became Italy’s first ever Olympic women’s gymnastics champion, will have a second chance on Monday to win her fourth gold of the games in the floor final.
D’Amato’s compatriot, Manila Esposito, took bronze behind 18-year-old Chinese debutant Zhou Yaqin, with Biles fifth and Lee sixth.
“We usually say with beamers that whoever stays on wins a medal,” said Tweddle. “Unfortunately, that’s exactly how it’s gone.
Alice D’Amato is the women’s balance beam Olympic champion 🥇
The Italian can’t believe it ❤#Olympics #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/fCwwIgYUtL
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) August 5, 2024
“There were a lot errors. The two Italians did their routines cleanly and that’s the result of it. The pressure of an Olympic final is so much. You only have to be slightly off and that’s game over.
“[Biles has] got time now to get her composure back. She’ll be in the back gym with her personal coaches, who’ll be calming her down.”
D’Amato and Esposito will be among those taking part in the floor final. Jordan Chiles, who won team gold alongside Biles and Lee, will also feature.
