Suni Lee’s date with history will have to wait.
Lee, just like teammate Simone Biles, fell of the balance beam during her performance Monday and lost out on the chance to medal.
The 21-year-old finished tied for fifth — with Biles — with a score of 13.100 in the eight-woman field, behind winner Alice D’Amato of Italy, who triumphed with a score of 14.36.
In failing to finish in the top three, Lee finished one medal short of tying Shannon Miller (seven) for the second-most by an American gymnast.
Biles is the all-time Team USA leader with 11 medals after finishing second in the floor routine Monday.
“I’m so sad about my beam routine,” Lee said afterward. “But I gave it my all, so that’s OK.”
The balance beam marked Lee’s last event and she entered in hope of claiming her fourth medal of the 2024 Paris Olympics in what has been a short but distinguished Olympics career.
She had already grabbed a gold in team all-around and bronze medals in individual all-around and uneven bars.
Lee finished fifth in the balance beam in her first attempt during the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and the AP reported that she has “long coveted” winning gold in the event.
Those hopes wen by the wayside when she fell off the beam during what the Associated Press labeled as the “end of her acro series.”
Right after Lee fell, Biles gave her reeling teammate a big hug.
Biles fell during her routine several minutes later.
“We were both just kind of annoyed just because we know what we’re capable of,” Lee said of her and Biles falling and failing to medal, per The Associated Press.
After her routine in the beam final, Simone Biles was one of the first to encourage Suni Lee. 🥹 #ParisOlympics
📺 E! and Peacock pic.twitter.com/WuoWZiTdjH
— On Her Turf (@OnHerTurf) August 5, 2024
Lee said the quietness inside the arena during her performance may have actually hurt her and Biles, with no music being played during the routines and some fans shushing others, per the AP.
“We were just talking about how annoying it was to be shushed,” Lee said, per the outlet.
She added: “The pressure was definitely on. don’t know if you could tell, but a lot of people were definitely feeling it. I think it was the crowd but also just knowing that we’re so close to being done and just adding that extra stress of wanting to end it off the right way.”
That silence made the event even more strenuous for Olympians.
“It adds to the stress, just because it’s like you, yes, you’re the only one up there,”Lee said, per the AP. “So I was feeling the pressure.”
Before Monday’s mishap, Lee said Sunday she’s truly enjoyed this Olympics experience.
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Lee’s Olympics career once seemed in jeopardy when she was diagnosed with kidney diseases that led to her gaining 45 pounds last year, but she persevered to inch closer to history.
“I can’t believe that I have six medals,” Lee said Sunday after grabbing a bronze in the uneven bars, according to ESPN. “This Olympics has definitely meant a lot more. I’m really trying to enjoy everything that comes with it.”
Lee celebrated her fifth medal with an Instagram post Saturday.
“from being told that i would never be able to do gymnastics again to winning my 5th olympic medal!!🥹❤️🩹❤️🩹,” Lee posted.
“this medal goes deeper than gymnastics. i can’t even begin to express how much my health has taken away from me & the strength it has taught me, so to be here is the greatest achievement of all. grateful for the opportunity to be able to represent team USA at my second olympic games! thank you for all the support ❤️.”
