Simone Biles returns to the Olympic competition floor

August 3, 2021
The GIST: American gymnast Simone Biles made an overnight comeback and proved the haters wrong.
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Simone Biles returns to the Olympic competition floor
Source: TODAY/Twitter

The win: Following an early exit from the team event and withdrawals from the all-around competition and three other individual events to take care of her mental health, Biles competed in the women’s balance beam event early this morning. Her decision paid off in the form of a bronze medal.

  • It was Biles’ seventh career Olympic medal, tying her for the most decorated U.S. gymnast in history, and could be her last if she decides to retire before Paris 2024...but we’re holding our breath.

Zoom out: It goes without saying that Biles prioritizing her mental health has been the story of the Olympics so far. Yet again — despite the backlash they knew they would face — a Black, female athlete has forever changed the way we view the mental aspects of sports.

Team Canada: Unfortunately, Biles’ win edged Canadian and friend of The GIST Ellie Black off the podium. Black finished fourth on the beam, a personal best.