Simone Biles criticized the ‘strange and awkward’ atmosphere and lost her medal on horizontal bars

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Simone Biles Talks ‘Awkward’ Atmosphere for Olympic Beam Final: ‘None of Us Liked It’

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 5: Simone Biles of United States looks dejected and disappointed after her performance during the Women's Balance Beam Final on day ten of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on August 5, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Daniela Porcelli/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

Simone Biles wasn’t a fan of the quiet atmosphere during the balance beam final on Monday at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“It was really weird and awkward, and we’ve asked several times if we can have some music or some background noise,” Biles told reporters. “So, I am not really sure what happened there. But yeah, not our favorite. None of us liked it.”

Biles fell off the beam on Monday, although she still finished strong.

However, she did not make the podium after finishing in a tie for fifth with a score of 13.100.

Italy’s Alice D’Amato earned a gold medal on the beam with a score of 14.366, while Zhou Yaqin of China took home silver. Italian gymnast Manila Esposito secured a bronze. With her finish on top of the podium, D’Amato became the first Olympic gold medalist for Italy in women’s gymnastics.

While Biles struggled during the beam final, she was still satisfied with her overall performance at the 2024 Games.

“I accomplished way more than my wildest dreams—not just at this Olympics, but in this sport,” she said, per Kyle Feldscher of CNN. “So I can’t be mad at my performances. A couple years ago, I didn’t think I’d be back here at an Olympic Games, so competing and then walking away with four medals, I’m not mad about it. I’m pretty proud of myself.”

She secured a silver medal during Monday’s floor routine final, representing a slight disappointment given her historic dominance in the event. Still, she ended the Paris Olympics with three gold medals to bring her overall 2024 total to four.

Biles’ 11 career Olympic medals, including seven gold, tied Czechoslovakia’s Vera Caslavska for the second-most by a female gymnast in Olympic history (h/t ESPN).

While Biles is currently 27 years old, she still hasn’t ruled out competing during the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. If she attempts to secure a beam medal once again, the environment could be different in front of a U.S. crowd.