Simone Biles Takes Bronze Behind China’s Guan, Tang

Tokyo, Aug 3 (EFE).- Simone Biles of the United States secured the bronze medal in the balance beam final in an emotional return to action at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Tuesday. The US athlete, a four-time Olympic champion and widely regarded as one of the greatest gymnasts of all time, was withdrawn last week from five other events at the Games so far due to mental health issues.

The US Federation said that it was “excited to confirm” that two US gymnasts — “Suni Lee and Simone Biles” — would compete in the final. Biles dropped out of last Tuesday’s team final after performing only one exercise. She has pulled out of all other events since then, saying she needed to protect her mental health. 

This event was the only final she competed in Tokyo, after pulling out of her previous events due to mental health concerns. One week after she sent shockwaves through the world of sport by withdrawing from the team final, Biles returned to the Ariake arena to try to improve on her result at Rio five years ago when she also took home the bronze medal.

 But the American, widely considered to be among the greatest gymnasts of all time, could not better the Chinese duo of 16-year-old Guan Chenchen, who won the gold medal, or her teammate Tang Xijing, who took silver.

Text Courtesy of EFE