TOKYO -- Simone Biles finished her 2020 Olympic Games with a Bronze Medal.Biles missed the finals of vault, uneven bars, floor exercise and all-around. She made her return to competition Tuesday, the last day for artistic gymnastics. Biles was received with a standing ovation by her teammates and hundreds at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre. She placed third in the event.Biles, 24, performed a slightly different and easier routine than that she did during qualifying. However, she was solid throughout the whole thing and required only a slight hop on her double-pike dismount. At the end, she gave a few kisses to the crowd.She was awarded a 14.000 and finished behind Chenchen Guan (14.633), and Xijing Tan (14.233), both from China.Biles, the reigning Olympic champion in the all-around and on vault and floor and a 15 time individual world champion, was widely expected win multiple gold medals at the Games. Biles qualified for all the individual events, including first in the all-around last week.Simone Biles, who had pulled out of the team finals, returns to win a bronze medal in balance beam. AP Photo/Ashley LandisResultsAfter the first vault event, she had pulled out of Tuesday's team final and stated to the media that she had seen "a bit of the twisties" but was no longer confident in her ability to compete.Biles later decided to withdraw from the all-around competition and the three final events. Biles posted a series on Friday to her Instagram account, explaining that she still experiences the phenomenon in which gymnasts feel lost in the air and that her "mind" and her body are not in sync.Her status for Tuesday’s beam final was uncertain until Monday, when USAG announced that she would compete, along with Sunisa Lee in the final women's artistic gymnastics event at the Games.Biles was seen cheering on her teammates at all events over the last week and they have praised her leadership and grace in spite of the circumstances.MyKayla skinner, who was in the vault final to replace Biles, said that it was "really cool" to see her support and cheer us on. "And I knew that she was going to shout the loudest [on Sunday] because she is like, 'I want to make podium, and I want to medal.' She's been amazing the last few days. It's amazing to see her strength after all she has been through."Just to see how incredible she has dealt with all of the negative comments and how people respond to her. She's a strong cookie, and she has definitely inspired me in many ways.Skinner and other teammates could be heard shouting for Biles (and Lee!) throughout Tuesday. Lee finished fifth, having won both the all-around title and a bronze medal on bars.Biles has not yet confirmed her future plans for the sport after the Games, except for a headlining tour around the country.
