Simone Biles opens up on 'weird, odd' crowd after missing medal in balance beam final at Paris 2024 - 'Stop shushing'
Published 05/08/2024 at 18:55 GMT+1
American gymnastics superstar Simone Biles did not look happy with the crowd after she failed to medal in the women's balance beam final at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Biles fell off the beam during her routine and was later heard calling out the crowd for "shushing". Despite the "weird" atmosphere, Biles said she was proud of her Games.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
Simone Biles opened up on the "weird" atmosphere inside the Bercy Arena after falling out of medal contention in the women’s balance beam final.
Biles, who was chasing her third gold in Paris, finished in fifth place on the beam after falling during her routine.
The 27-year-old superstar looked visibly unhappy following her routine, and was heard to say "stop shushing” towards spectators as she waited for her score from the judges.
“Why are they all shushing? As soon as I’m going they’re like shushing so much,” she said to her USA team-mates.
Biles ended up receiving a score of 13.100 to miss out on the medals, but would later make up for it by claiming silver - her 11th Olympic medal - in the floor event, with her Brazilian rival Rebeca Andrade taking gold.
Speaking to Eurosport after the final event of her Games, Biles said she was proud of what she had accomplished in Paris.
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She said: “Definitely proud of the work that I put in mentally and physically and having the right group of people around me.
“It just goes to show that I can do it and I did it here a couple nights in a row.
"So I’m really proud of the work and the outcomes. I can’t be disappointed with any of my performances here at the Games.”
Asked about the “shushing” and the atmosphere during the beam final, Biles said it was “odd” but stopped short of saying the crowd impacted her performance.
“We’ve asked for music several times but they don’t want to play music for some reason," Biles said.
"I think the shushing was the loudest part and they’re shushing and they’re trying to cheer. It was so weird and odd, but it is what it is at the end of the day.
“Beam is always a tough apparatus to do a final on, and unfortunately for a lot of us it didn’t happen today. But that’s okay because we’re still proud of whoever made the podium.”
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Following her challenges in Tokyo three years ago, Biles said her return to the Olympics was a “redemption tour”.
After winning three golds and a silver in Paris, Biles said she had “absolutely” redeemed herself.
“I couldn’t be more proud of how I’ve done," she said. "I’m 27 years old and walking away from these Games with four medals to add to my collection. Not mad about it.”
As for how she plans to celebrate, Biles said: “Maybe a tattoo. But most importantly I’m just going to go back to the States and see my husband and relax.”
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