Biles is leaving Paris with four new medals and a new title: most decorated U.S. gymnast in Olympic history
In what may very well be her final Olympics routine ever, Simone Biles went out in style at the 2024 Paris Olympics, taking home a silver medal in the women’s floor exercise final on Monday, Aug. 5.
The second place finish marked the first silver medal for Biles, 27, in Paris, and her 11th overall Olympic medal. Though her routine earned a high difficulty score of 6.9, several out-of-bounds stumbles led to a penalty of -0.6.
The star gymnast came runner-up to gold medalist Rebeca Andrade of Brazil, who scored 14.166. Biles’ Team USA teammate Jordan Chiles, 23, took home a bronze medal with a score of 13.766, and was overcome with emotion as her final score was announced.
Chiles had initially been awarded a score of 13.666 by the judges, a fifth-place finish. But she challenged the difficultly score they gave her, and after a short review, her final score was upped by one-tenth of a point, boosting her to the podium. Chiles broke down in tears as Biles embraced her after the announcement.
Along with the many U.S. fans in the arena for Biles and Chiles, gold medalist Andrade had a strong contingent from Brazil cheering her on. The gymnast added to her medal haul in Paris, which included silver in the all-around and vault, and bronze in the team final. Andrade previously earned gold in the vault at the Tokyo Games and a silver in the all-around.
Earlier in the day, Biles struggled on the balance beam, placing fifth with a score of 13.100 after falling off the beam during her routine.
Paris had already been kind to Biles, who returned to form after the “twisties” forced her to bow out of the 2020 Tokyo Games three years ago. She and her U.S. teammates won the gold medal in the women’s team final on Aug. 1, and Biles also took home first place in the women’s all-around final and the women’s individual vault final.
After the team final, Biles became the most decorated U.S. gymnast in Olympic history with eight medals, surpassing Shannon Miller.
In a press conference after the vault final on Aug. 3, Biles confirmed she was done with the Yurchenko double pike vault — but played coy when it came to whether or not fans would see her at the Los Angeles Games in 2028.
“This is my last, definitely Yurchenko double pike [vault]. I mean I kind of nailed that one. So never say never,”she said. “The home Games — the next Olympics is at home, so you just never know. But I am getting really old.”
