[ad_1]
Earlier, Becky Downie – competing at her third Olympics – finished seventh (13.633) in the uneven bars final after falling during her high-risk routine as Kaylia Nemour secured gold (15.700) to win Algeria’s first ever gymnastics medal.
The 32-year-old went all out on difficulty to challenge for the gold medal but missed the bar on ‘the Downie’ – the move named after her – to put herself out of medal contention.
“As soon as I fell I just felt ‘this is how it was supposed to be’,” a tearful Downie told BBC Sport.
It had already been an emotional week for the two-time European champion, competing in Paris just over three years after her 24-year-old brother died a week before the Tokyo Olympic trials – which she pulled out of.
Tuesday’s team final, where Britain’s women finished fourth, fell on his birthday and Downie said she “couldn’t have done any more” in Sunday’s uneven bars final after a “hard journey”.
She added that it was “highly likely” this would be her last competition having competed in her first Olympics 16 years ago.
“Coming into this I knew it was building up towards the end,” she said.
“I would’ve loved to finish on a better routine but I feel like you can go forever trying to chase a medal and this is just how it was supposed to be today.”
American gymnast Simone Biles just missed out on qualification for the uneven bars final, the only apparatus she has not made the final in.
She will go in the beam and floor finals on Monday having already won individual all-around, team and vault titles.
[ad_2]
Source link
