Analysis: Simone Biles’ greatest power might be the toughness that’s been there all along
In the early days after she was adopted by her grandparents, Simone Biles, a preschooler at the time, put herself in charge of younger sister Adria.
Part of it was Biles doing what big sisters do. Part of it was trying to give Adria something familiar to hold onto as they adjusted to life in Texas.
All of it hinted at an inherent toughness, the kind Biles has relied on time and again over the last quarter century. Through dozens of medals and bouts of crippling self-doubt. Through triumph and trauma. Through it all.
So maybe it’s fitting that in the middle of the second Olympic all-around title the 27-year-old earned on Thursday night in a taut final against Brazilian star Rebeca Andrade, Biles turned inward and leaned on a resolve that often gets lost amid her unparalleled greatness.
WATCH: AP reporter on what it’s like to cover Simone Biles after more than a decade
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Simone Biles is in the lineup for all four events during the team finals at the Paris Olympics. AP reporter Will Graves explains what covering the U.S. gymnastics star has been like for 11 years.
Andrade proud of ‘Black Power’ podium
Rebeca Andrade, Simone Biles, Jordan Chiles: three Black women sharing the Olympic podium after the floor exercise at the Paris Olympics.
“We can show the Black Power,” Andrade said after claiming the gold medal ahead of Biles and Chiles.
Three Black women had already stood on the podium in the all-around event at the world championships last year, when American Shilese Jones was third behind Biles and Andrade.
“We were able to do it here too,“ Andrade said. “I love myself, my skin color. But I’m also not focused on that. Rebeca goes beyond her color. And the same goes for Jordan, for Simone. The idea is it serves as an incentive. Sometimes it may be more difficult for you because of you skin color. But you can do it, and we proved it’s possible.”
Could you be a gymnast at the Paris Games? Find your Olympics sports match based on your body type
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
We’re never here to tell you what you can and can’t do, but if you weigh 105 lbs and stand 5-foot-1, you’d have similar dimensions to the gymnasts who’ve competed in the Olympics.
WATCH: Gymnast Jordan Chiles shows how she performs with long nails
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Gymnast Jordan Chiles loves having long nails and says it is the “one little touch” of who she is as an athlete. Chiles shared with the AP how she manages to perform ahead of the Paris Olympics.
Jordan Chiles was promoted to third place in the beam final after her coaches asked for an inquiry before the results were official.
There are two components to Olympics gymnastics scoring: The difficulty, or D-score, is what a gymnast does. The execution, or E-score, is how well they do it.
Under the sport’s governing body, coaches may inquire about the difficulty score of one of their gymnasts if they believe judges have missed an element or a skill. Such challenges can be solved with the use of video.
Chiles originally scored 13.666 but was finally granted an extra tenth of a point following the inquiry. That was enough to get the bronze medal.
Simone Biles’ redemption tour in Paris finishes with silver
Simone Biles didn’t get the golden sendoff she sought.
Biles earned silver in the floor exercise finals on Monday — her 11th Olympic medal — after a routine that included a couple of costly steps out of bounds.
Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade became the first gymnast to beat Biles in a floor final in a major international competition, posting a score of 14.166 that finished just ahead of Biles at 14.133.
Jordan Chiles, a longtime friend and teammate of Biles, earned the bronze.
The 27-year-old Biles, considered the greatest in the history of the sport, wasn’t at her usual best during a routine set to music from pop icons Taylor Swift and Beyonce.
Still, she boosted her medal haul in Paris to four — gold in the team, all-around and vault finals and a silver that came as a surprise in her signature event.
Andrade, Biles and Chiles can skip the trip to the gift shop. When Olympic medal winners take the podium, they’re handed a long, thin package containing the official Paris Olympics poster.
They also get special stuffed Olympic Phryges with their corresponding medal.
Biles says bowing to Andrade was ‘the right thing to do’
Biles and Chiles bowing to Andrade was a spur-of-the-moment decision. Biles said, “It was the right thing to do” after they finished second and third.
“First, it was an all-Black podium, so that was super exciting for us,” Biles said. “But then Jordan was like, ‘Should we bow to her?’ And I was like, ‘Absolutely.’”
Andrade happy for herself, not about beating Biles
Andrade was asked after receiving her gold medal if it made it any sweeter to beat Biles.
“I’m not fighting against her,” Andrade said through an interpreter. “I’m fighting with me to be my best myself.”
Biles, who along with Chiles bowed to the winner from Brazil, said she has so much respect for Andrade.
“She’s a competitor — she always keeps me on my toes,” Biles said. “It’s always an honor every time I get to compete with her.”
Chiles, hoarse from cheering on her teammates, says she wasn’t expecting to win a medal today
“This is just a dream come true for my first ever time in an event final,” Jordan Chiles told NBC after her bronze win. “First event medal, first event final — oh my gosh, I’m very proud of myself.’’
Chiles, speaking with tears in her eyes and a voice hoarse from cheering, said her pride extends to the entire U.S. women’s team.
“Always sharing a podium with Jordan is so much fun,” Biles said of her teammate during a post-competition interview with the network Eurosport. “We have trained together for so many years, so to see her put in that hard work and for it to pay off, it’s just amazing. I think I was way more excited for her than I was for myself.”
Biles ‘not mad about’ another medal, but she didn’t like the quiet vibes
Biles, with a silver medal hanging around her neck following a narrow loss to Andrade in the floor final, said she was happy with her performance.
“I can’t be more proud of how I’ve done,” she said on Eurosport. “I’m 27 years old walking away from this Games with four medals to add to my collection. Not mad about it.”
Biles was not as thrilled about performing in a quiet arena. She slipped and fell off the balance beam earlier, finishing fifth in that event.
“We’ve asked for music several times, but they don’t want to play music for some reason,” Biles said. “But I think the shushing was the loudest part. And they were shushing and they were trying to cheer. It was so weird and odd, but it is what it is at the end of the day.”
Biles now has 11 career Olympic medals.
Andrade becomes Brazil’s most decorated Olympian
Andrade is now Brazil’s most decorated Olympian with six medals. Sailors Robert Scheidt and Torben Grael, both retired, have five apiece.
“I’m very happy and I’m very proud,” Andrade said on Eurosport.
Biles and Chiles bow to gold medalist Andrade
There is an immense and mutual admiration shared by the three athletes on the podium. Biles and Chiles each bowed to Andrade as she stepped onto the top spot.
Biles at the world championships last year pretended to move a crown from her head to Andrade’s after her rival from Brazil beat her in the vault.
IN PHOTOS: The moment Jordan Chiles found out she won bronze
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Jordan Chiles, of the United States, and Simone Biles, of the United States, celebrate after the women’s artistic gymnastics individual floor finals in Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. Biles won the silver medal and Chiles the bronze medal. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
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Jordan Chiles, of the United States, and Simone Biles, of the United States, celebrate after the women’s artistic gymnastics individual floor finals in Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. Biles won the silver medal and Chiles the bronze medal. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
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Jordan Chiles, of the United States, and Simone Biles, of the United States, celebrate after the women’s artistic gymnastics individual floor finals in Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. Biles won the silver medal and Chiles the bronze medal. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
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Jordan Chiles, of the United States, and Simone Biles, of the United States, celebrate after the women’s artistic gymnastics individual floor finals in Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. Biles won the silver medal and Chiles the bronze medal. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
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Jordan Chiles, of the United States, and Simone Biles, of the United States, celebrate after the women’s artistic gymnastics individual floor finals in Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. Biles won the silver medal and Chiles the bronze medal. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
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Jordan Chiles, of the United States, and Simone Biles, of the United States, celebrate after the women’s artistic gymnastics individual floor finals in Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. Biles won the silver medal and Chiles the bronze medal. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
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Jordan Chiles, of the United States, and Simone Biles, of the United States, celebrate after the women’s artistic gymnastics individual floor finals in Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. Biles won the silver medal and Chiles the bronze medal. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
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Jordan Chiles, of the United States, and Simone Biles, of the United States, celebrate after the women’s artistic gymnastics individual floor finals in Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. Biles won the silver medal and Chiles the bronze medal. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
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Jordan Chiles, of the United States, and Simone Biles, of the United States, celebrate after the women’s artistic gymnastics individual floor finals in Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. Biles won the silver medal and Chiles the bronze medal. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
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Jordan Chiles, of the United States, and Simone Biles, of the United States, celebrate after the women’s artistic gymnastics individual floor finals in Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. Biles won the silver medal and Chiles the bronze medal. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
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Jordan Chiles, of the United States, and Simone Biles, of the United States, celebrate after the women’s artistic gymnastics individual floor finals in Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. Biles won the silver medal and Chiles the bronze medal. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
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Jordan Chiles, of the United States, and Simone Biles, of the United States, celebrate after the women’s artistic gymnastics individual floor finals in Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. Biles won the silver medal and Chiles the bronze medal. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
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Jordan Chiles, of the United States, and Simone Biles, of the United States, celebrate after the women’s artistic gymnastics individual floor finals in Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. Biles won the silver medal and Chiles the bronze medal. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
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Jordan Chiles, of the United States, and Simone Biles, of the United States, celebrate after the women’s artistic gymnastics individual floor finals in Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. Biles won the silver medal and Chiles the bronze medal. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
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Jordan Chiles, of the United States, and Simone Biles, of the United States, celebrate after the women’s artistic gymnastics individual floor finals in Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. Biles won the silver medal and Chiles the bronze medal. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
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Jordan Chiles, of the United States, and Simone Biles, of the United States, celebrate after the women’s artistic gymnastics individual floor finals in Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. Biles won the silver medal and Chiles the bronze medal. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
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Jordan Chiles, of the United States, and Simone Biles, of the United States, celebrate after the women’s artistic gymnastics individual floor finals in Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. Biles won the silver medal and Chiles the bronze medal. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
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Jordan Chiles, of the United States, and Simone Biles, of the United States, celebrate after the women’s artistic gymnastics individual floor finals in Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. Biles won the silver medal and Chiles the bronze medal. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
U.S. wins two more gymnastics medals
The U.S. added two more gymnastics medals on the final day of competition, with Simone Biles getting silver and Jordan Chiles bronze in women’s floor exercise.
Biles had a score of 14.133, just short of winner Rebeca Andrade of Brazil’s 14.166.
An inquiry put Chiles into third at 13.766. The change denied Romania what would have been its first gymnastics medal since 2012.
Chiles wins bronze after inquiry
American Jordan Chiles has won the bronze medal after an inquiry changed the scoring.
She burst into tears when she found out.
Biles narrowly loses to Andrade
Simone Biles narrowly lost to Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade on floor, taking silver for her 11th career Olympic medal.
Biles: ‘If one of these cameras hits me one more time, we’re going to have an issue’
Simone Biles was aggravated by the focus on her ahead of her final event at the Paris Olympics.
She was swarmed by cameras as she prepared for the floor exercise. As Biles walked to chalk her hands, she voiced her displeasure.
“If one of these cameras hits me one more time, we’re going to have an issue,” she said.
Biles had seemed to land awkwardly during her warm-up, and cameras were hyper-focused on her as she received treatment before her routine. She had to weave through a crowd of gymnasts, coaches and cameras to get to the chalk.
Chiles steps out in floor exercise
Jordan Chiles is the last gymnast to perform at the Paris Olympics. She stepped out of bounds on her first tumbling pass.
Biles guaranteed a medal in floor exercise
Biles is guaranteed a medal in women’s floor exercise. It’s her 11th Olympic medal.
Rebeca Andrade leads with two left to go in floor exercise
Rebeca Andrade of Brazil is in position to win gold in the women’s floor exercise with two gymnasts left to go. She got a score of 14.166
Simone Biles is second at 14.133. Fellow American Jordan Chiles will be the last one to compete.
Biles moves into second after her floor exercise routine
Biles has performed for the last time at the Paris Olympics.
She wowed the crowd with a flawless opening tumbling pass but went out of bounds a couple of times.
She capped her performance by blowing a kiss to the crowd.
Her score of 14.133 put her in second place behind Rebeca Andrade.
Biles begins her floor exercise
Biles took a couple of deep breaths, closed her eyes and acknowledged the judges before beginning her floor exercise. It’s her final event of the Paris Olympics.
She has been competing with tape on her calf since, including today. When she left the floor following her warmup, she stood momentarily with her hands on her knees and looked to be in discomfort.
Biles warms up for the floor exercise final
Biles is now on the floor, putting the finishing touches on her routine with coaches Cecile and Laurent Landi during a final warmup.
She missed a landing on a tumbling pass, but Laurent Landi was there to stabilize her.
Falls continue in the floor exercise
The floor exercise is on and — guess what — the first competitor, Manila Esposito has fallen.
Competing right afterward, Rebeca Andrade of Brazil has delivered the same kind of stunning routine that earned her a silver medal in the all-around competition.
Andrade is the epitome of elegance on the floor, and her acrobatics are spectacular and clean. She has the lead early in the final with a score of 14.166.
Women’s floor exercise gets underway
The women’s floor exercise is underway with Italy’s Manila Esposito, the reigning European champion in that event, going first.
Women’s floor exercise is up next
Women’s floor exercise is up next, with Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles among those taking part. It’s the final gymnastics event at the Paris Olympics.
That’s a wrap for men’s gymnastics
Men’s gymnastics is over at the Paris Olympics after the Japanese anthem played one final time at Bercy Arena.
Japan was the big winner on the men’s side, taking team gold with Shinnosuke Oka the champion in the all-around competition and horizontal bar.
The U.S. men won bronze in all around. Stephen Nedoroscik also got bronze in his specialty, pommel horse.
A look at the (long) list of celebrities who’ve shown up to watch Biles
The large number of celebrities who have turned out at the gymnastics venue sometimes gave the impression that the Cannes film festival was going on at the Bercy Arena.
Today, it’s Tom Brady and his daughter Vivian. A-listers Nicole Kidman, Natalie Portman and Serena Williams have also made appearances, as have Spike Lee, Michael Phelps, Lady Gaga, Tom Cruise and Jessica Chastain.
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Kendall Jenner takes a selfie during the women’s artistic gymnastics all-around finals in Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
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Frankie Grande, left, Ariana Grande, center, and Cynthia Erivo, right, attend the women’s artistic gymnastics qualification round at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
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Jessica Chastain, center, wears a top with an American flag fashioned onto it as she attends the women’s artistic gymnastics qualification round at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
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Serena Williams is seen in the stands before the women’s artistic gymnastics team finals round at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
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Actor Tom Cruise, left, interacts wih fans during a women’s artistic gymnastics qualification round at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
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Kendall Jenner takes a selfie during the women’s artistic gymnastics all-around finals in Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
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Kendall Jenner takes a selfie during the women’s artistic gymnastics all-around finals in Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
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Frankie Grande, left, Ariana Grande, center, and Cynthia Erivo, right, attend the women’s artistic gymnastics qualification round at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
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Frankie Grande, left, Ariana Grande, center, and Cynthia Erivo, right, attend the women’s artistic gymnastics qualification round at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
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Jessica Chastain, center, wears a top with an American flag fashioned onto it as she attends the women’s artistic gymnastics qualification round at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
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Jessica Chastain, center, wears a top with an American flag fashioned onto it as she attends the women’s artistic gymnastics qualification round at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
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Serena Williams is seen in the stands before the women’s artistic gymnastics team finals round at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
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Serena Williams is seen in the stands before the women’s artistic gymnastics team finals round at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
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Actor Tom Cruise, left, interacts wih fans during a women’s artistic gymnastics qualification round at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
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Actor Tom Cruise, left, interacts wih fans during a women’s artistic gymnastics qualification round at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Still some time to go before women’s floor exercise
The women’s floor exercise has yet to begin at Bercy Arena. It was scheduled to start at 2:23 p.m. CEST/8:23 a.m. EDT.
Medals still need to be awarded from the men’s horizontal bar final.
Shinnosuke Oka wins gold; Angel Barajas’ silver is Colombia’s first ever gymnastics medal
Shinnosuke Oka of Japan, who won the men’s all-around competition earlier this week and helped Japan to victory in the team event, concluded his Paris Olympics by adding a third gold medal in the men’s horizontal bar.
The former junior world champion whose career was put on hold by a serious knee injury two years ago edged Angel Barajas of Colombia. They tied at 14.533, but Oka won because of a better execution score.
Barajas’ silver is the first gymnastics medal of any kind for Colombia.
IN PHOTOS: It’s not just Biles — gymnasts are falling left and right in Bercy Arena today
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
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Tang Chia-Hung, of Taiwan, falls on the horizontal bar during the men’s artistic gymnastics individual horizontal bar finals in Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
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Sabrina Maneca-Voinea, of Romania, falls on the beam during the women’s artistic gymnastics individual balance beam finals in Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
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Takaaki Sugino, of Japan, falls during the men’s artistic gymnastics individual horizontal bar finals at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
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Julia Soares, of Brazil, falls on the beam during the women’s artistic gymnastics individual balance beam finals in Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
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Tin Srbic, of Croatia, reacts after falling on the horizontal bar during the men’s artistic gymnastics individual horizontal bar finals in Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
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Suni Lee, of the United States, falls on the beam during the women’s artistic gymnastics individual balance beam finals in Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
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Simone Biles, of the United States, falls during the women’s artistic gymnastics individual balance beam finals at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
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Tang Chia-Hung, of Taiwan, falls on the horizontal bar during the men’s artistic gymnastics individual horizontal bar finals in Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
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Tang Chia-Hung, of Taiwan, falls on the horizontal bar during the men’s artistic gymnastics individual horizontal bar finals in Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
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Sabrina Maneca-Voinea, of Romania, falls on the beam during the women’s artistic gymnastics individual balance beam finals in Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
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Sabrina Maneca-Voinea, of Romania, falls on the beam during the women’s artistic gymnastics individual balance beam finals in Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
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Takaaki Sugino, of Japan, falls during the men’s artistic gymnastics individual horizontal bar finals at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
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Takaaki Sugino, of Japan, falls during the men’s artistic gymnastics individual horizontal bar finals at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
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Julia Soares, of Brazil, falls on the beam during the women’s artistic gymnastics individual balance beam finals in Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
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Julia Soares, of Brazil, falls on the beam during the women’s artistic gymnastics individual balance beam finals in Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
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Tin Srbic, of Croatia, reacts after falling on the horizontal bar during the men’s artistic gymnastics individual horizontal bar finals in Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
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Tin Srbic, of Croatia, reacts after falling on the horizontal bar during the men’s artistic gymnastics individual horizontal bar finals in Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
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Suni Lee, of the United States, falls on the beam during the women’s artistic gymnastics individual balance beam finals in Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
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Suni Lee, of the United States, falls on the beam during the women’s artistic gymnastics individual balance beam finals in Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
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Simone Biles, of the United States, falls during the women’s artistic gymnastics individual balance beam finals at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
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Simone Biles, of the United States, falls during the women’s artistic gymnastics individual balance beam finals at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
“There’s a lot going on in here,” the two-time Olympic gymnastics medalist turned TV analyst said with a laugh. “There’s a lot of chatter.”
Yes, there is.
And whatever gets through the filter — which, to be clear, is most of it — has helped make the 24-year-old’s foray into commentating a hit with both TV viewers and those like Hernandez who are perennially online.
Eight years ago in Rio de Janeiro, she was the youngest member of the Simone Biles -led “Final Five” team that stormed to the gold medal. Hernandez added a silver on beam later in those Games, where her boundless energy helped make her a breakout star.
Not much has changed in Paris other than Hernandez’s point of view.
There are nerves to be sure when she slips her headset on alongside broadcast partner Rich Lerner, just very different ones than the kind she experienced as an athlete.
Yet when she starts to talk, the affection she still feels for her sport well into her retirement is obvious.
Biles up seventh, Jordan Chiles last in the floor exercise
Simone Biles is seventh, and fellow American Jordan Chiles goes last in the floor exercise, which is set to start in minutes.
Here’s the full order for the final gymnastics event of the Paris Olympics:
Manila Esposito, Italy
Rebeca Andrade, Brazil
Ou Yushan, China
Rina Kishi, Japan
Ana Barbosu, Romania
Alice D’Amato, Italy
Simone Biles, United States
Sabrina Voinea, Romania
Jordan Chiles, United States
Balance beam final was full of falls
It was quite unusual that that so many top gymnasts fell off the beam during the final.
One explanation might be the absence of music, which could have disturbed competitors by ramping up the pressure. Instead, the usually raucous Bercy Arena was dead silent.
Music had been played almost constantly before the final.
Men’s horizontal bar final gets underway
The men’s horizontal bar final is underway at Bercy Arena. It is the final men’s gymnastics event at the Paris Olympics, with women’s floor exercise next and last.
Lee not a fan of quiet crowd during balance beam final
Sunisa Lee said the largely quiet crowd at Bercy Arena contributed to a rough women’s balance beam final.
Lee, who along with Simone Biles and Romania’s Sabrina Voinea slipped and fell, said on Eurosport she prefers cheering to the silence.
“The pressure was definitely on,” Lee said. “I don’t know if you could tell, but a lot of people were definitely feeling it. I think it was the crowd but also just knowing that we’re so close to being done and just adding that extra stress of wanting to end it off the right way.”
Biles has one more chance at a medal
Simone Biles has one more chance at a medal at the Paris Olympics. The floor exercise is set to start at 2:20 p.m. CEST/8:20 a.m. EDT.
After finishing fifth in the balance beam final, she cannot tie the record for the most Olympic gold medals by any athlete, summer or winter. But she could pick up an eighth gold and 11th overall.
Andrade does not medal on the balance beam
After Biles, her main rival, faltered, Andrade delivered a routine that mixed elegant moves and difficult acrobatics.
It was not enough for he Brazilian star to medal, though, as she ended up fourth.
Italy’s D’Amato won the title with 14.366 points. Zhou Yaqin of China claimed silver ahead of another Italian gymnast, Manila Esposito, who got bronze.
Alice D’Amato of Italy takes balance beam gold
Alice D’Amato of Italy won gold in the women’s balance beam final.
Biles, Lee and Andrade were all shut out of a medal.
Rebeca Andrade goes in the balance beam
After Lee and Biles slipped off the balance beam, Rebeca Andrade is the last gymnast up in the final.
Biles slips off the balance beam
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 beam finals on Monday, denying her an opportunity to add to the bronzes she won on the event at the 2016 and 2020 Games.
She could be seen shaking her head while looking up at video screens waiting for her score. Fans yelled from the stands, “We love you, Simone!”
Biles got a score of 13.1
Biles begins on the balance beam
Biles has begun her routine in the balance beam final. She’s up after Alice D’Amato of Italy moved into first place.
Biles is up next on the balance beam
It’s Biles’ time in the balance beam final as she looks for an eighth Olympic gold medal and 11th overall.
Another slip and fall on the balance beam
Lee was the first gymnast to slip and fall in the balance beam final. She was not the last.
Sabrina Voinea of Romania fell off, too, and she did it twice during her highly difficult routine. She scored 11.733, even lower than Lee.
Simone Biles consoles Sunisa Lee
Simone Biles was one of the first people to console Sunisa Lee after the U.S. gymnast slipped in the balance beam final.
NBC posted a video of Biles giving Lee a hug. Lee scored a 13.1 that will almost certainly leave her out of medal contention.
Sunisa Lee slips in the balance beam final
American star Sunisa Lee won’t get the gold on balance beam she has coveted.
The 21-year-old fell in the middle of her acro series during her routine, ending her chances of earning a fourth medal in Paris.
Lee will leave the Games with six medals on her Olympic resume after getting a gold in the team competition and bronze in both the all-around and uneven bars.