“I started bawling my eyes out”-Simone Biles felt ‘bittersweet’ yet proud after ending a successful campaign at Paris Olympics 2024

Artistic Gymnastics - Olympic Games Paris 2024: Day 10 - Source: Getty

Simone Biles recently opened up about the emotions that she went through following the conclusion of a successful 2024 Olympic campaign in the French capital. This comes just a day after the 27-year-old clinched the silver medal in the floor exercise finals.

Biles concluded the 2024 Olympic Games with a remarkable haul of three gold medals in the Team, Individual All-Around, and Vault competitions, along with a silver in the Floor Exercise. This exceptional performance elevated Biles’ Olympic medal count to an astounding eleven, solidifying her status as one of the greatest gymnasts of all time.

During a recent conversation on the Today Show, she was asked about her achievements at the Paris Games and if they had sunk in. Here’s what Biles said:

“Not completely and I don’t think I will until one day I decide to retire. But yesterday when we got back to the village I looked at Jordan and I just started bawling my eyes out and he was like I knew it was gonna happen.”

She further added:

“I think I was so full of emotion and I finally released all of that. I was so proud, happy, and bittersweet that the journey is over and it’s so crazy that it happened so quick, my third Olympics.”

The 2024 Paris Olympics was a really successful campaign for Biles, more so considering the setback she faced three years ago in Tokyo, where she experienced twisties. The condition didn’t allow the American to perform to the best of her abilities.

Simone Biles misses the podium in the balance beam apparatus, finishes fifth

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Simone Biles showcased her dominance by securing podium finishes in nearly every event she entered, with the exception of the balance beam.

Biles placed fifth on the balance beam with a score of 13.100, comprising a difficulty score of 6.200, an execution score of 7.200, and a penalty of 0.3 points. Her teammate, Suni Lee, also scored 13.100, finishing in sixth place. Italian gymnast Alice D’Amato claimed the gold medal with a score of 14.366.

Following her fifth-place finish in the finals, Biles opened up about the environment around the Barcy Arena that vehemently affected her performance. The 27-year-old told one of the reporters (via The Guardian),

“It was really weird and awkward, not our favorite. None of us liked it.”

The balance beam event at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris was the sole individual apparatus that did not have a gymnast from the United States ranked in the top three.