Furious Simone Biles hits out at Olympic crowd after out-of-character mistake costs her medal
Simone Biles settled for fifth place in her penultimate event at the 2024 Olympics following a tough routine as an unusual mistake cost her a spot on the podium.
After winning all-around, vault and team gymnastics titles in Paris, Biles, 27, had the chance to add a fourth to her tally today (August 5) as she took on the 10cm-wide individual balance beam.
However, she lost her balance while performing an aerial series and fell to the floor.
BBC reported that encouraging shouts of ‘Come on Simone’ could be heard in the venue alongside ‘shushing’ sounds from others in the audience.
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Despite the blip, the Olympian regained composure and returned to the balance beam to earn a score of 13.100.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough for her to medal and she placed fifth.
Meanwhile, Italian Alice D’Amato took home the coveted gold medal, Zhou Yaqin from China placed second and Italy’s Manila Esposito brought home bronze.
Following the feat, Biles—who is the most decorated gymnast in history— returned to the athlete seating area where she was rejoined by her coach and fellow Team USA gymnast Sunisa Lee, 21.
The trio began talking and it’s claimed Biles was frustrated with the ‘shushing’ coming from the audience, as per Metro.
“Why are they all shushing? As soon as I’m going they’re like shushing so much,” she apparently said.
Lee allegedly added: “I don’t know why, are they [the Olympic gymnastics organisers] telling them to?”
The latter, who also fell off the bar, eventually placed sixth in the individual balance beam with a score of 13.100.
She later told the press that the ‘pressure was definitely on’ for the gymnasts.
“I don’t know if you could tell, but a lot of people were definitely feeling it,” she continued.
“I think it was the crowd but also just knowing that we’re so close to being done and just adding that extra stress of wanting to end it off the right way.”
She later told PEOPLE that the event 'didn't go the way' she wanted it to and that she 'didn't even know' what happened in her series that made her fall.
This summer has marked a triumphant Olympic comeback for Biles after being forced to withdraw from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, citing mental health issues.
After overcoming a bout of the ‘twisties’ and working with a therapist, the Team USA gymnast has pocketed three gold medals and still has the chance to claim a fourth.
Biles will compete once more at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games as she partakes in the Floor finals this afternoon.
Topics: Sport, Olympics, Simone Biles, World News, Celebrity
Ella Scott