8/3 UPDATE: In her return to competition, United States star gymnasts Simone Biles took the bronze in the balance beam final. Fellow American and all-around gold medalist Sunisa Lee took fifth.
On the same day United States star gymnast Simone Biles announced she will compete in the balance beam final, Jade Carey became the second American gymnast to take home a gold medal at the 2021 Olympic Games.
Carey was the only American competing in Monday’s floor exercise final. Her score of 14.366 put her clear ahead of Italy’s Vanessa Ferrari, who took the silver with a score of 14.200. Japan’s Mai Murakami and the Russian Olympic Committee’s Angelina Melnikova tied for the bronze after they both received scores of 14.166.
Carey’ gold comes just four days after fellow American Sunisa Lee won gold in the women’s all-around competition. Biles did not compete in the all-around final after she pulled out in the middle of last week’s team final.
Biles’ withdrawal came after a shaky performance on vault during the first rotation. She watched from the sidelines as her three American teammates completed the meet without her. The U.S. took silver, finishing just behind the Russian Olympic Committee.
Biles later said she was dealing with issues surrounding air awareness, referred to as “the twisties” in gymnastics.
In addition to the team and individual finals, Biles also sat out the individual finals for the floor, uneven bars, and vault events. In addition to Carey’s gold in the floor exercise, MyKayla Skinner took the silver in the vault, and Lee took the bronze in the uneven bars. The U.S. has five medals in gymnastics, tied with China for second, only trailing the ROC.
Biles won bronze on the balance beam back in 2016. In the qualifying round in Tokyo, Lee qualified with the third highest score, and Biles qualified with the seventh highest score.
Tokyo 2020 Olympics – Gymnastics – Artistic – Women's Floor Exercise – Medal Ceremony – Ariake Gymnastics Centre, Tokyo, Japan – August 2, 2021. Gold medallist Jade Carey of the United States poses with her medal in front of the olympic rings. REUTERS/Lindsey Wasson
