"People were mad that I didn't get gold" - When Simone Biles opened up about her Olympic bronze medal being disregarded after Rio Olympics

By Animesh Pandey

Modified Oct 28, 2024 11:40 GMT

Simone Biles marked her presence at the 2016 Rio Olympics. However, she was disappointed that her hard-fought bronze medal in the balance beam event was ignored by many. She won the bronze alongside four gold medals at the Rio Olympics.

In 2021, Biles recounted the disappointment she faced after winning the bronze in the balance beam event. During the second episode of a docuseries on Facebook Watch titled "Simone vs Herself," the Olympic champion narrated,

"I came out of 2016 with five medals, but nobody recognizes that medal. So every time I go somewhere, [people say] 'four-time gold medalist.' But I have five medals! My bronze feels neglected"

Biles also reflected on the public disappointment she experienced after the balance beam finals.

"In 2016, although I would say I'm doing it for myself, I really was terrified of what everyone else was going to think. I remember finishing beam. I was super excited, but at the end of the day I was pissed because people were mad that I didn't get gold, and I was still happy with my bronze, but I couldn't be happy, because nobody else was happy for me."

Simone Biles had topped the qualifications for the balance beam at the Rio Olympics. However, she almost stumbled during the final move in the balance beam finals. While Biles avoided a bad fall, she couldn't avoid the deduction in her score and had to settle for a bronze medal.

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When Simone Biles reflected on her "celebrity" status after 2016 Rio Olympics

Simone Biles after winning the Individual All-Around Finals at the Rio Olympics in 2016 [Image Source: Getty]

Simone Biles performed phenomenally well at the Rio Olympics in 2016. She won gold in the team all-around, the individual all-around, the vault, and the floor exercise event, and a bronze medal in the balance beam event.

Following her impressive Rio Olympics stint, comparisons were made between Biles and Olympic legends Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps, who were competing at the Rio Olympics for the last time.

However, when she asked about this in in August 2016, Biles brushed off those comparisons and said (via ABC News),

"I'm not a celebrity. I'm just Simone Biles, but it's amazing to be recognized for all of this success for myself and for Team USA. I'm not the next Usain Bolt or Michael Phelps. I'm the first Simone Biles. To me, I'm just the same Simone."

Biles was also expected to shine at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. However, she developed "twisties," a situation wherein a gymnast is unable to decide the next move mid-air. The then 24-year-old gymnast took the brave decision of withdrawing from most of the competitions after the team all-around event. She won just one individual medal, a bronze in the balance beam event, apart from the silver medal in the team all-around event at the Tokyo Olympics.

Simone Biles bounced back in style at the Paris Olympics 2024, with three gold medals and a silver. She is currently touring the USA for the second season of the "Gold over America Tour," which will end on November 3.