"So stupid";"Judges were itching to deduct her" - Fans react to Simone Biles being penalized for not saluting in Paris Olympics balance beam final

Simone Biles missed a podium place on the balance beam final at te 2024 Paris Olympics after losing her balance and falling off. She finished fifth with 13.100 points, as Italy's Alice Domato claimed the win. Meanwhile, China's Zhou Yaqin and another Italian, Manila Esposito, finishing second and third respectively.

Incidentally, Simone Biles faced a huge blow in the final on Monday at the Bercy Arena when she was penalized for not saluting the judges after finishing her routine, a move that resulted in a neutral deduction. She was deducted 0.3 points as a result.

Biles’ penalty has attracted reactions from fans who claimed that the gymnast did salute the judges and that the deduction was absurd.

"I know 0.3 made no difference in the end but this is so stupid," one fan said.

"What on earth. She pointed towards the judges and saluted," another fan shared.

"I just know the judges were itching to deduct her for something and leapt at the opportunity," a fan shared.

Here are some more reactions from fans.

"I like that everyone now knows that gymnastics judges are the most miserable of the bunch," another fan shared.

"This feels absurd because she definitely did salute???" another chimed in.

"Is it because the main judges table is actually behind her and she didn’t hold the salute? Still ridiculous though," another fan shared.

Simone Biles was in the company of fellow American Suni Lee at the event, who lost balance and fell on the balance beam, finishing sixth in the event.

Simone Biles wins silver in the floor exercise for final medal at Paris Olympics

Paris 2024 - Gymnastics - Source: Getty

After missing out on a medal in the balance beam final routine, Simone Biles ended her campaign at the Paris Olympics with a silver medal in the floor excercise women's individual event. In the 2016 Rio Olympics, she had won gold at the event. She came second on Monday to Rebeca Andrade of Brazil, with fellow American Jordan Chiles taking the bronze.

Earlier in Paris, Biles led Team USA to a gold medal in the women’s all-around final. The American then claimed wins on the vault routine and the individual all-around. She leaves the Olympics as the most decorated American gymnast of all-time at the Games, having won 11 medals. Of those 11, seven are gold medals (four in Rio, three at the 2024 Olympics).