Simone Biles Shines Amidst Pressure in Paris
PARIS — In a vibrant atmosphere filled with the spirited chants and flag-waving of Brazilian fans, the excitement was palpable as the name of star gymnast Rebecca Andrade lit up the all-around standings. Yet, not everyone shared in the jubilation. Simone Biles found herself in an unexpected position after the first two rotations of the Olympic all-around competition: she was not in the lead. With Andrade and Algeria’s Kaylia Nemour ahead, Biles prepared to transition to the balance beam, a challenging event that is far from a time to relax.
Biles later reflected on the anxious moments leading up to her turn, admitting, “I was praying to every single god out there,” and confessed she had “never been so stressed in my life.” Despite the tension, Biles showcased her extraordinary talent on the beam, an apparatus famously narrow—no wider than an iPhone. For years, she has amazed audiences with her daring routines, pushing the limits of a sport that is already perilous. Biles had not lost an all-around competition since 2013, boasting an incredible streak of 37 consecutive wins. She had also created five signature moves that no other gymnast had dared to attempt in Olympic competitions until this week, when Panama’s Hillary Heron successfully executed the Biles I on the floor.
However, it was Biles’ performance on the beam that may have defined her Olympic journey. Facing immense pressure in an arena buzzing with unexpected tension, nursing a calf injury requiring tape, and coming off a previous Olympic Games where she had to withdraw due to mental health struggles, Biles managed to deliver a remarkable routine. She experienced just a slight balance check but landed her dismount with a short hop, scoring 14.566 and putting her back in the lead over Andrade, with only the floor exercise remaining—a routine where Biles typically excels.
When it came time for the floor exercise, Biles electrified the crowd, incorporating her signature skills and securing the gold medal. After her routine, a radiant smile broke across her face. She made her way down the stairs, directly to the mats surrounding the uneven bars, where she leaned on her elbows, clearly overwhelmed with emotion. Later, she mouthed to her coach, Cecile Landi, “Oh my god, I can’t believe it.”
“Team competition is always my favorite because we all get out there and compete together,” Biles expressed. “But personally, tonight means the world to me. I knew if I did my work, I’d be fine.” Tokyo Olympic all-around champion Sunisa Lee concluded her day with an impressive floor routine, earning a bronze medal.
If this was indeed Biles’ final all-around competition—she has been somewhat evasive about such inquiries, but at 27, it is a possibility—it was a fitting farewell, encapsulating her journey, challenges, and triumphs. Biles has always been recognized for her physical prowess and audacity, a gravity-defying athlete packed into a mere 57 inches of tenacity. She stands as one of the most dominant figures across all sports.
However, her quest for mental peace has been anything but straightforward. Her withdrawal from the 2020 Tokyo Games opened doors to deep introspection, forcing her to confront not only the twisties that sidelined her but also the underlying causes. Emerging with a newfound happiness and strength, Biles is determined to remind herself of the joy that initially drew her to gymnastics.
It is particularly fitting that the balance beam was the final act of her all-around career. This very apparatus had helped pave her path to recovery during the Tokyo Games, where she withdrew from the team final, all-around, and every event final she qualified for, except for the beam. She secured a bronze in that event, declaring it the most meaningful medal she had earned.
Once again, the beam proved to be her ally, albeit under entirely different circumstances. Biles is not accustomed to wrestling for victory; typically, competing against her in an all-around event is akin to facing legends like Rocky Marciano or Edwin Moses. It’s like stepping into the pool against Katie Ledecky in the 1500 meters, or trying to outpace Michael Phelps in the 200 IM. It’s as if you’re at the Oscars with Ben-Hur nominated, or the Grammys after Michael Jackson released Thriller.
There is a universal realization that victory is almost an impossibility when Biles competes. She has not lost an all-around competition since March 30, 2013, when she was just 16 years old, new to senior gymnastics, and still sporting braces. In that tri-meet, she finished second to Kyla Ross, who was fresh off a silver medal in the Olympics, trailing by 1.3 points. Since then, Biles has remained undefeated, with 17 different gymnasts finishing behind her, only four of whom—Ross, Russia’s Aliya Mustafina, Lee, and Shilese Jones—have come within a point of her.
For a brief moment, Andrade believed she might achieve the impossible. As a formidable competitor, Andrade has faced her own challenges, having torn her ACL three times. Now 25, she has evolved into a stronger gymnast, finishing as the runner-up to Biles at last year’s World Championships by a narrow margin of 1.633 points. Her routines are not only difficult but also executed with remarkable precision.
It was Andrade’s presence that pushed Biles to execute her most challenging vault—the Yurchenko double pike—recognizing that she might need the heightened difficulty to clinch the title. “I thought, okay, I have to bring out the big guns today,” Biles noted about her strategy. “I’ve never had an athlete that close before, so that definitely kept me on my toes and brought out the best in me.” Ultimately, Biles’ impressive score of 15.766 on the vault was crucial to her victory.
In the end, Andrade did not falter throughout the competition; she delivered flawless routines. However, Biles did not merely win; she dominated.
Required reading
- When does gymnastics start at the 2024 Paris Olympics? Schedule, contenders, and how to watch
- The story behind Simone Biles’ new floor routine: The ‘big boss of gymnastics’ is back
- How is Olympic gymnastics scored? A guide to understanding the competition
(Photo: PAUL ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images)
