Simone Biles reacts to bronze medal win in balance beam finals
Simone Biles is back on the winner's podium in Tokyo after a stunning performance on the balance beam.
After she previously withdrew from individual competitions last week in vault, uneven bars and floor events, the Team USA gymnast took home the bronze medal in the balance beam finals at the 2020 Games.
The superstar Olympian posted a score of 14.000, which placed her behind Guan Chenchen and Tang Xijing, both of China, who took home gold and silver, respectively. Biles' teammate, Sunisa Lee, who won gold in the individual all-around competition, came in fifth in the balance beam event.
"I'm pretty happy. I wasn't expecting to medal. I just came out here and tried to do a good beam set," Biles said in a press conference. "To have these two next to me. I think they did absolutely amazing. I watched them train so hard so they are definitely deserving of one and two."
She continued, "Just to have one more opportunity to compete at the Olympics is amazing."
This marks Biles' second straight Olympic bronze medal on beam after the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. This medal also makes Biles tied for the title of most decorated U.S. Olympic gymnast with Shannon Miller.
The 24-year-old was on track to win an unprecedented six gold medals during the Games, with the aim of becoming the first woman since 1968 to win back-to-back titles in the all-around -- a competition that tests individual gymnasts on each of the four apparatuses.
Biles’ victory on the balance beam rounded out multiple Olympic wins for Team USA thus far in Tokyo.
Three time Olympic gymnast Dominique Dawes explained to "Good Morning America" why Biles would return for this particular event.
"She didn't have to worry about the twisties as much on the balance beam if she chose not to do her full-in dismount or her double-double, and she did a double pike and was very conservative," Dawes said. "I'm so proud of that young lady. She faced her fears and got out there and this won't be something that's looming over her that she didn't get back out there on the podium and compete."
In an Instagram post, Biles said that this year’s games have been “stressful,” writing, “It’s been a long Olympics process" and "a long year."
Over the weekend, gymnast Jade Carey took the gold in the individual floor exercise final, Sunisa Lee snagged bronze on the uneven bars and Mykayla Skinner earned a silver medal on vault.
"It means everything to me to have my Dad here," Carey told reporters following her win. "We've been working so hard for this together so I'm really glad that I was able to do that for us."
