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Simone Biles slips off balance beam and misses podium placement
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    Simone Biles slips off balance beam and misses podium placement

    PARIS — No medal for Simone Biles on the balance beam this time.

    The American gymnastics star slipped and fell off the apparatus at the end of her acrobatic series during the Paris Games’ beam finals Monday, denying her an opportunity to add to the bronzes she won on the event at the 2016 and 2020 Games.

    Wearing a blue-and-white leotard featuring over 5,000 crystals, Biles was more than halfway through her set when she couldn’t quite keep her balance. She hopped off the beam and onto the mat while thousands inside a packed Bercy Arena let out an audible “ohhh.”

    Biles received a score of 13.100, tied with U.S. teammate Sunisa Lee for fourth.

    There was an extended wait for her score to post. At one point, Biles rolled her eyes in seeming annoyance knowing she wasn’t going to finish on the medal stand.

    Alice D’Amato of Italy took the gold with a score of 14.366. Zhou Yaqin of China earned silver with a 14.100, just ahead of bronze medalist Manila Esposito of Italy.

    Biles finished in a tie for fifth with Lee, whose hopes for a gold on beam she’s long coveted ended in the middle of her routine when she fell during the end of her acro series, just like Biles did a few minutes later.

    The 21-year-old Lee will still leave Paris with three medals just months after she was bedridden while trying to navigate a pair of chronic kidney-related diseases.

    While Lee’s Olympics are over, Biles is also in the floor final later Monday, an event where she’s never lost a major international competition, including a gold in Rio do Janeiro eight years ago.

    There is plenty of history on the line for Biles in what could be the last competition of her career. Biles has 10 medals in her Olympic career, including seven golds. A medal in the floor final would tie her with Czechoslovakia’s Vera Caslavska for the second-most medals by a female gymnast in Olympic history, trailing only former Soviet Union great Larisa Latynina’s 18.

    Biles has stayed relatively quiet on what lies ahead for her beyond the Paris Games, though she did nudge the door open a little for a possible return when the Olympics shift to Los Angeles.

    “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.”

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    Simone Biles, the reigning Olympic champion in gymnastics, faced a rare setback during the balance beam final at the recent competition. The talented athlete, known for her incredible skills and precision on the apparatus, unexpectedly slipped and fell during her routine, ultimately missing out on a podium placement.

    Biles, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest gymnasts of all time, had been expected to contend for a medal in the balance beam final. However, a momentary loss of balance caused her to stumble and fall off the beam, resulting in a deduction of points that ultimately cost her a spot on the podium.

    Despite the disappointment of missing out on a medal, Biles showed remarkable resilience and sportsmanship in the face of adversity. She gracefully accepted the outcome and congratulated her fellow competitors who had outperformed her on the day.

    The slip-up on the balance beam serves as a reminder that even the most talented and accomplished athletes are not immune to mistakes. It also highlights the unpredictable nature of sports and the importance of mental toughness and perseverance in overcoming setbacks.

    While Biles may have missed out on a podium placement in this particular competition, her legacy as a dominant force in gymnastics remains intact. Her unparalleled skills, dedication, and determination have solidified her status as a role model and inspiration for aspiring athletes around the world.

    As Biles continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in gymnastics, her occasional missteps only serve to humanize her and make her achievements all the more impressive. The slip off the balance beam may have been a temporary setback, but it will not define her remarkable career or diminish her impact on the sport.