China goes 1-2 on balance beam. Biles wins bronze

Chenchen Guan of China performed the best beam routine during the apparatus final at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. 

The Chinese pulled off a feat to come through big at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Tuesday. Chenchen Guan, and Xijing Tang scored big numbers in the women’s balance beam final to win gold and silver respectively at the Ariake Gymnastics Center. Simone Biles’s return earned her a bronze, making her tied with American Shannon Miller for the most medals won by an athlete from the US. 

The 24-year-old superstar surprised and excited the world with her decision to return to action for the last apparatus final. On the last day of the competition at the Olympics, Biles found her comfort level to come prepared for the balance beam with Lee. In their hopes to go first and second, the pair from the United States knew that nerves had to be put aside to finish the sport successfully. Two athletes from China and Urazova from the ROC would be in a fight against the Americans to shove their way in for a medal of any color. 

The lone Canadian opened up the competition with a routine that had a few balance checks and hesitations. When she came down to the floor, she let the emotions flow while in the embrace of her coach. She earned a 13.866 that wouldn’t be a threat to any of the stronger athletes. Tang got the highest score going third with a 14.233, but Biles went next and pleased the crowd. 

The American had very little wrong with her routine, which gave her a 14 that kept her from the lead but left her score and Xijing’s very close together. Lee followed her teammate and fought the beam to stay on during her routine. The trouble she battled kept her on the apparatus, but her score of 13.866 only tied her with Black. Urara Ashikawa of Japan earned a 13.733 that made no threat to the leaders. 

Urazova had a major break in her beam routine but prevented falling off to finish strong. The ROC gymnast earned a 12.733 that put her at the back of scoring. The pint-sized Brazilian went second to last and came through her first tumbling pass too strong. She used her hands to keep on the apparatus and had balance checks that kept her from being a threat. With Guan the last gymnast to perform, Biles guaranteed herself a medal whether it was silver or bronze. 

The 16-year-old Chinese star had a major break in her connecting movements but the deduction would be a drop due to her 16.9 start value. Guan’s score of 14.633 instantly gave her the gold medal with China finishing first and second and Biles taking third.