Simone Biles wins often, but not always

Exceptional gymnast Simone Biles flew to Paris with the ambitious goal of winning five gold medals and becoming the most successful Olympian in the history of the Games. If she had achieved her best, the 27-year-old superstar would have been able to position herself on a par with swimmer Katie Ledecky and gymnast Larissa Latynina with a total of nine titles.

Well, this mission was not entirely successful because Monday was not only extremely unfavorable on the world’s stock markets. The result remains at seven gold medals. For now.

Biles is undoubtedly the best, but not unbeatable. Especially on the uneven bars, where she is not a fan. But in the balance beam and floor disciplines, the three-time Paris winner (all-around, team and vault) started as the clear favorite to tear the 20,000 fans in the Bercy Arena to their feet. Things turned out very differently.

“She’s really pissed off”

In the meantime, there was an awkward silence – garnished with a few expressions of surprise (“Oh”, “Ah”) when the scores came out and Biles didn’t get a one. “You can tell she’s really annoyed,” said Eurosport expert Fabian Hambüchen, assessing the “icon’s” body language.

The “shaky beam” threw the 1.42 meter tall athlete violently during a backflip, and the bottom line was fifth place, while 21-year-old Alice D’Amato from Genoa – unexpectedly – brought Italy its first ever Olympic gold in women’s gymnastics. Well deserved, because she was almost flawless.

Image: AFP/Bouys

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Alice D’Amato on the way to Olympic victory
Image: AFP/Bouys

On the floor, Biles won silver – behind Rebeca Andrade from Brazil. The smile of the serial winner from Columbus, who has amassed a total of 30 gold medals at major events, sounds rather tortured.

A snapshot – nothing more, nothing less.

After the failed attempt to break the record, her large following (more than eleven million followers on Instagram) can perhaps look forward to an Olympic sequel. Los Angeles 2028 – why not?

“Never say never. The next games are at home, that would be an incentive, you never know,” said Biles, before bursting into loud laughter: “But I’m getting really old.”

The way she currently presents herself after overcoming the crisis of Tokyo 2021 – at that time she withdrew from the team competition due to mental problems – namely at peace with herself and in a positive mood, 31 is perhaps the new 21.

Even if not everything goes perfectly, Biles is in her element. The lightness of being is tangible. “It fills me with great joy to be competing again. The stage is so liberating for us, we have fun and do what we love,” said Biles, also speaking for her professional colleagues.

One of them is Alice D’Amato, who never dared to dream of one day being able to surpass the great Simone, her idol. She managed it on the Olympic balance beam. “I didn’t have any words for silver in the team competition, and now I have none at all. I can’t believe it, I wasn’t expecting a medal. And now it’s gold,” said the Italian in amazement.