Simone Biles Wins Bronze on Balance Beam at Tokyo Olympics

By Teddy Grant Published: August 3, 2021

Simone Biles Wins Bronze on Balance Beam at Tokyo Olympics

Biles is pressing on to the 2021 Olympics. While she's confident her body will be fine next summer, she is concerned about the mental toll of another year of training. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, Fle)

Gymnast Simone Biles won a bronze medal in the balance beam competition at the Tokyo Olympics on Tuesday, cementing her place as one of the most decorated gymnasts in history.

Biles finished behind China’s Guan Chenchen and Tang Xijing, who scored 14.633 and 14.233, respectively. According to Team USA, Biles, who scored 14.000, has tied the record for the most Olympic medals won by a U.S. gymnast.

Making history. Always. @Simone_Biles ties the record for the most Olympic medals won by a U.S. gymnast. #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/4lXZ6waUeQ

— Team USA (@TeamUSA) August 3, 2021

“I was just happy to be able to perform regardless of the outcome,” Biles said. “I did it for me and I was happy to be able to compete one more time … Training for five years and coming here and kind of being triggered and not being able to do anything wasn’t fun.”

“I didn’t expect a medal today. I just wanted to go out there and do this for me, and that’s exactly what I did,” she added.

Last week, Biles withdrew from the team gymnastics final, citing her mental health. She said that she had experienced “the twisties” and was feeling disoriented while training.