Simone Biles is human after all – but silver medal completes Olympic redemption
The IndependentSign up to our free sport newsletter for all the latest news on everything from cycling to boxing Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Simone Biles settled for fifth in the beam final in Paris, before returning to deliver a mesmeric floor routine to claim a silver medal in what could be her final ever appearance at the Olympics. But the gutsy Biles would return, with her trademark tumbling enough for an 11th Olympic medal behind only Brazil’s brilliant Rebeca Andrade in the floor final. open image in gallery Simone Biles of Team United States reacts after competing in the Artistic Gymnastics Women's Balance Beam Final If the team gold provided the platform for Biles to sparkle, removing any lingering doubt to banish the demons from Tokyo, then the beam offered a humbling experience. The genuine buzz to see her perform the huge Biles II vault was an unforgettable moment of Paris 2024. open image in gallery Gold medallist Alice D'Amato of Italy, silver medallist Yaqin Zhou of China, and bronze medallist Manila Esposito of Italy pose with their medals And her audacious approach to each routine, gambling with techniques of a higher difficulty, which are at times a full mark higher than her rivals, would not stop at the beam, delighting those in attendance with a gripping final hurrah on the floor.