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Simone Biles wins bronze medal on Olympic return in balance beam after US gymnast took time off for mental health

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SIMONE BILES returned to Olympic action in style on Tuesday morning by bagging a bronze medal in the balance beam.

The American superstar put in a strong performance in Tuesday’s final in her comeback after stepping aside to focus on her mental health.

Reuters
Simone Biles smiled as she returned to action at the Olympics on Tuesday[/caption]
Rex
The American competed in the balance beam event after her break for mental health reasons[/caption]
Reuters
Biles won bronze behind two Chinese gymnasts on her return to action[/caption]

Biles, 24, smiled as she went through her warm-up routine hours ahead of the final at the Ariake Arena.

She went third when the action began at 9.50am UK time and her routine scored 14.000 – enough for second place at the time.

The American was cheered on by team-mates in the stands in Tokyo, and let out a huge sigh of relief after completing her routine.

She had five competitors after her in the balance beam final to see if she could hold onto a medal spot.

And only China’s Guan Chenchen managed a better score as she stormed to gold ahead of compatriot Tang Xijing.

That meant Biles finished with bronze to bag a seventh Olympic medal and a second at these Games after winning silver in the women’s team event.

The 24-year-old didn’t compete in the final but was part of the US qualifying team and awarded a silver medal.

Biles, a four-time Olympic gold medallist, was planning to take part in six events at these Games.

She pulled out of the team and individual all-around finals last week – as well as the vault, uneven bars and floor.

Had things been different and she had won six golds, she would have surpassed the Olympic record for female athletes.


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PA
The 24-year-old put in a strong showing to bag a bronze medal[/caption]
AFP
She was cheered on by American team-mates as she went through her routine[/caption]

Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina won nine gold medals while competing at Melbourne 1956, Rome 1960 and Tokyo 1964.

Since the Rio Olympics in 2016, Biles revealed she had been among more than 300 women and girls to say they were molested by prolific USA Gymnastics child abuser Larry Nassar.

Biles, who is considered by many to be the greatest gymnast of all time, has received plenty of support from her fellow athletes.

She said last week: “After the performance I did, I just didn’t want to go on. I have to focus on my mental health.

“I just think mental health is more prevalent in sports right now.

“We have to protect our minds and our bodies and not just go out and do what the world wants us to do.

“I don’t trust myself as much anymore. Maybe it’s getting older. There were a couple of days when everybody tweets you and you feel the weight of the world.

“We’re not just athletes. We’re people at the end of the day and sometimes you just have to step back.”

IOC president Thomas Bach has praised Biles for prioritising her mental health over personal and team glory, saying: “I can only say, you know, we are with her,

“I must personally say I had the opportunity to at least briefly talk with her after the team competition.

“I’m really admiring how she’s handling the situation. She admits to having this problem. This is already courageous.

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“Who one year ago would have admitted to say (they) have mental health problems?

“And at the same time then cheering on (her) team-mates.

“And then being there, and supporting when her successor is in the all-around final?

“This is, you know, great human quality and this is Olympic spirit at its best.”

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