The balance beam caused mayhem on Monday.
Not only did American skater Simone Biles miss out on a medal after falling off the balance beam during her performance, but her teammate Suni Lee also suffered the same fate.
Like Biles, Li’s fall cost her a chance at a medal, and her teammate finished tied for fifth place out of eight competitors with 13.100 points as of Monday morning.
Alice D’Amato of Italy won with 14.366 points, followed by Yaqin Zhou of China and Manila Esposito of Italy.
Although Lee did not finish in the top three, she still lies one behind Shannon Miller (seven), the second-most medal-winning American gymnast.
Biles is Team USA’s all-time leader in medals with 10.
“I was really sad about my balance beam performance,” Lee said on air afterward, “but I gave it my all, so it’s OK.”
The 21-year-old Li was competing in the tournament aiming to win a fourth medal in his short but illustrious Olympic career at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
She had already won gold in the team all-around and bronze in the individual all-around and uneven bars.
This was her final Olympic event.
2024 Paris Olympics
Li finished fifth on the balance beam in her first attempt at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and could have had a shot at a medal had she not fallen at the Bercy Arena.
Moments after Lee collapsed, Biles embraced her staggering teammate.
Lee said the silence in the arena during her performance may have actually hurt her.
“I think it was the pressure and the atmosphere,” Lee says. “It was so quiet when I got onstage. I could literally hear myself breathing.”
Before Monday’s accident, Lee said Sunday that she had thoroughly enjoyed this Olympic experience.
“I can’t believe I won six medals,” Lee said Sunday after winning bronze on the uneven bars. According to ESPN:“These Olympics definitely mean a lot to me, and I’m really trying to enjoy everything that comes with it.”
