Simone Biles Falls in Balance Beam Final

Simone Biles fell off the balance beam during the final event of her Olympic career, finishing fifth with a score of 13.100, marking her first medal miss at the Paris Olympics. Italy's Alice D'Amato won the gold with a score of 14.366, while China's Zhou Yaqin and another Italian, Manila Esposito, took silver and bronze, respectively. This event was particularly challenging, as many gymnasts struggled to remain on the beam, including fellow American Suni Lee, who also fell and finished sixth. Biles, who had previously secured three gold medals in team, all-around, and vault competitions, was aiming for a fourth medal in the floor exercise later the same day. The balance beam has been a source of both triumph and challenge for Biles throughout her career, as she previously earned a bronze medal in the same event at the Tokyo Olympics after withdrawing from multiple competitions due to mental health concerns. Biles's performance in Paris has highlighted her remarkable comeback following her hiatus after Tokyo, where she faced significant personal and professional challenges.