Paris 2024 Olympics: Simone Biles falls off balance beam, finishes fifth in final

Simone Biles fell off the balance beam during her performance in the apparatus final at the Paris 2024 Olympics on Monday.

Simone Biles of Team United States reacts after falling while competing during the Artistic Gymnastics Women’s Balance Beam Final. | Photo Credit: Getty Images

Simone Biles fell off the balance beam during her performance in the apparatus final at the Paris 2024 Olympics on Monday.

The American gymnast finished fifth with 13.100 points with -0.3 penalty points after the fall as her compatriot Sunisa Lee completed sixth.

Wearing a blue-and-white leotard featuring over crystals, Biles was more than halfway through her routine when she couldn’t keep her balance. She hopped off the beam and onto the mat while thousands inside a packed Bercy Arena let out an audible “ohhh.”

Italy’s Alice D’Amato won the gold medal in the event.

China’s Zhou Yaqin won the silver medal and Italy’s Manila Esposito took the bronze. 

It was in this event that Biles won bronze after withdrawing from the other finals due to the twisties and mental health issues at the Tokyo Olympics.

Biles, who led the US women to team gold before claiming the all-around and vault titles, was among several finalists to fall off the apparatus, but she still has a chance at a fourth gold in the floor exercise final later in the day.

“Never say never,” Biles said after claiming her second Olympic vault title on Saturday. “Next Olympics are at home. So you just never know. I am getting really old.”

(With inputs from AFP and AP)