Simone Biles, the legendary gymnast, has yet to claim an Olympic gold medal on the balance beam. Can she finally achieve this feat at the 2024 Paris Olympics?
Biles famously withdrew from several events at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, citing "the twisties," a condition that causes gymnasts to lose spatial awareness while performing twisting elements. Despite this setback, she returned to compete in the balance beam final, showcasing a scaled-back dismount, and secured an Olympic bronze medal. This was her second bronze in this discipline, adding to her previous medal from the 2016 Rio Games.
"I'm pretty happy. I didn't expect to medal," Biles said in Tokyo. "I was just trying to go out there and hit a good beam set and compete one more time at these Olympic Games."
Since then, Biles has returned to international competition, most notably at the 2023 World Championships in Antwerp, Belgium. There, she secured her fourth World gold medal on the balance beam, edging out Zhou Yaqin of China, who took silver, and Rebeca Andrade of Brazil, who claimed bronze.
When is the Balance Beam Final?
The women's balance beam final will take place on Monday, 5 August, at 6:36 am ET at the Bercy Arena in Paris.
How to Watch the Event
The balance beam final will be broadcast live on NBC, USA Network, and E! Network. Alternatively, viewers can stream the event on Peacock, NBCOlympics.com, NBC.com, and the NBC Sports app.
The Reigning Champion
China's Guan Chenchen is the reigning Olympic balance beam champion, having secured gold at the Tokyo Games. Biles finished third in that competition, with Tang Xijing of China taking silver.
The Podium in Tokyo:
Gold: Guan Chenchen (China) - 14.633
Silver: Tang Xijing (China) - 14.233
Bronze: Simone Biles (USA) - 14.000
Biles' determination and unwavering skill have solidified her place as one of the greatest gymnasts of all time. Her pursuit of Olympic gold on the balance beam adds an extra layer of anticipation to the 2024 Paris Games. Will she overcome the odds and achieve her ultimate goal? The world will be watching.