Perhaps, the iconic Simone Biles has taken her final bows on the Olympic stage at Bercy Arena. She completed a successful Olympics, securing three gold medals before the last day. All Tokyo memories now freshly erased and rewritten. Two more medals were up for grabs here, potentially the last she might ever contend for.
Biles’ future in the sport is uncertain, especially with the upcoming Los Angeles games. When questioned this week, she gave no clear indication of her plans except to highlight her age by the time the games roll around—she will be 31 years old. However, age might not be her main concern.
Biles’ achievements at 27 are incomparable. She clinched second place in floor exercise here, which brought her Olympic medal count to 11 – seven gold, two silver, and two bronze. She might contemplate adding to this tally four years from now in America or might decide she has nothing left to accomplish in the sport. Regardless of her decision, her presence filled the gymnastics arena to capacity with devoted supporters.
For a long time now, Biles has transcended normalcy. She now exists in a realm of super-stardom, her fame unparalleled and beyond rational comprehension for us mere mortals. With the five tweets she posted since the competition started garnering close to 200 million views, Biles’ level of fame is reached by only a handful of athletes. Even fewer sportswomen achieve this.
As Biles’ exceptional performance drew to a closing in Paris, an admiring crowd was there to witness. For many, witnessing Olympic basketball is more about seeing LeBron James in person.
A leisurely walk around the Bercy Arena would have revealed the presence of several notable figures; Zinedine Zidane, Tom Brady, the medal-laden Dutch rowing team situated high up in the bleachers, and quite a few other Olympians who, having concluded their own competitions, viewed this as a sort of post-event luxury.
Everyone, enthralled, strained their necks, yearning for a glimpse of Biles before she departed. Were they all devoted gymnastic enthusiasts? Quite a few, certainly. But the character of the Olympics attracted a larger proportion of spectators who were there just for the experience and the opportunity to pay tribute to a celebrated sportsperson while they still had the chance.
However, excessive reverence became an issue. During the balance beam event, some sections of the crowd decided to silence others who were enthusiastic in their support for Biles and fellow competitors. The role this played in the unprecedented number of falls – half of the finalists stumbled off the beam in the final round – was uncertain. However, it was unanimously seen as an unwelcome diversion.
Balance beam finals are always tension-filled, Biles declared, herself one of the casualties, and subsequently finishing in the fifth position. Background noise was part and parcel of their training routine, therefore, it was more conducive for there to be some noise during the competition. The day’s scenario, however, involved disrupting sounds like Android ringtones. There was an attempt to remain undistracted.
Nonetheless, cheers were followed by louder silencing, a strange and uncomfortable situation. They had requested background music several times, Biles admitted, but it never materialised. The oddness of the final beam was not appreciated by any of the participants.
The life of a celebrity is far from ordinary. Most people are quick to belittle the desperation and emptiness often associated with frivolous fame. Yet, even that remains understandable when compared to the constant public scrutiny that someone like Biles endures. Never able to switch off, never able to lead a standard life, her existence is constantly under the public radar.
After sixty minutes, she resumed her activities for the floor exercise. The Paris 2024 volunteers, who had been troubleshooting aisle disturbances, had eventually surrendered to the task’s futility and commenced clustering themselves for better visibility. A collective intake of breath permeated the crowd when Biles unsurprisingly lost balance in her final rehearsal flick. Her coach provided guidance from behind the clear laminate separating them. A profound silence engulfed the vicinity.
Finally, it was her turn. As the finalists who competed most frequently, she and Rebeca Andrade from Brazil were embarking on the 17th routine of their week. After delivering her performance, Andrade had taken the lead, creating a goal for Biles.
The most successful gymnast in history executed her sequence, demonstrating abundant strength, altitude, and velocity. On occasions, these attributes proved excessive – she twice concluded her flicks beyond the rectangular parameters, forfeiting 0.3 points each incident. Ultimately, these deductions lead to her defeat and Andrade’s victory. Regardless, the Bercy Arena spectators gave a thunderous applause.
Biles later commented, “Today has been an absolute whirlwind. I have been contending at the Olympics for a week now. I cannot count the times I’ve appeared on that floor. Naturally, fatigue commences. However, it was mandatory to carry through our responsibilities today.”
She added, “I have accomplished far beyond my most audacious aspirations. Not solely in this Olympics, but in this sport in its entirety. I can’t berate the performances I’ve given. A few years prior, I didn’t contemplate returning to the Olympic Games. Competing here and earning four medals, I’m not afflicted with resentment. I’m far from disgruntled or disappointed with my renderings. I’m genuinely content and honoured. I’m even more elated that it’s concluded.”
Her implication was that her current week, her current Olympics was over. Yet, we understand that the future is unpredictable and delicate. Every person arrived with the premonition that perhaps, she would not compete again. They left, intoxicated by the exhilarating experience of watching her compete once more.