“Throw That Medal”: Simone Biles’ Past Shame Haunted Her Tokyo Olympics Third Place

The weight of expectations at the Olympics is staggering, especially for renowned athletes like Simone Biles. Yet, the 2021 Tokyo Olympics described a pivotal moment for Biles, thrusting her into a sphere of challenges previously uncharted. Despite clinching the bronze in the balance beam event, she now confesses, that it felt akin to “gold” amidst the tumultuous circumstances she was going through at that time.

Throughout that week, Biles grappled with unforeseen hurdles, notably struggling with her routine due to an inability to execute twists. Yet, the aftermath saw her withdrawal from the event, due to “twisties.” Biles recently disclosed in a podcast by “Call Her Daddy” that the specter of her past Olympics haunted her, leaving her feeling “ashamed” after she secured a bronze medal in the Tokyo Olympics.

Simone Biles’ shocking revelations post-Rio Olympics slip

Biles clinched four golds and one bronze during her breakthrough performance at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Amidst her stellar achievements, disappointment loomed over her beam routine, where the then-19-year-old encountered a memorable slip, resorting to grabbing the beam with her hands to maintain balance (a move that incurred a significant point deduction). Despite the stumble, Biles completed the routine and secured a bronze. While she found contentment in her accomplishment but still she faced a moment of public scrutiny.

In an interview with host Alex Cooper, Simone Biles candidly addressed the aftermath of her beam performance at the Rio Olympics. Reflecting on the moment, she recounted the public reaction to her bronze medal, revealing the weight of disappointment she endured. Despite acknowledging her mistake during the routine, Biles faced harsh criticism, with some suggesting, “throw that metal away. You should have got a gold“

She further added, “I was scarred from having a bronze medal because I never really talked about my bronze because people made me so ashamed of it in Rio.” she continued,” And so whenever I got that bronze, you couldn’t tell me that it was a bronze. It felt like a gold to me.” Despite the haunting memory, she persevered until finally withdrawing from the Tokyo Olympics. However, she made a comeback in 2023 but did she claim the spotlight?

Simone Biles soars- Nominated for Laureus 2024 Awards!

Now that it’s the Paris Olympics year 2024, Simone has even been nominated for the Laureus 2024 Awards, which is the highest honor in sports. This recognition comes as no surprise, given the awe-inspiring journey of her comeback. Following a two-year hiatus, Biles returned to the spotlight with resounding triumphs.

In September 2023, she clinched gold medals in both the floor exercise and balance beam events, further solidifying her legacy with an astounding total of 23 world titles.  Her exceptional performance in the high-stakes beam final, characterized by flawless execution and precision, culminated in a remarkable score, showing her unmatched skill on the global stage.