Gymnastics: With four medals, Biles proud of Paris achievement

PARIS: Simone Biles might be the world's most decorated gymnast but that did not stop her from producing uncharacteristic errors during her two final performances at the Paris Olympics on Monday (Aug 5), reminding her vast fan base that she, too, is human. 

On a self-described "redemption tour", Biles strived to return to the world's most prestigious sporting stage after withdrawing from several events at the Tokyo Olympics where she suffered from a dangerous mental block known as the "twisties."

Biles snapped up three gold medals in her first three events at the Paris Games - the team, the all-around and the vault. 

There were high expectations that she would add to her overall tally of seven Olympic golds on the final day of the artistic gymnastics programme - but that was not how it played out.   

She finished off the podium in fifth place in the balance beam final after slipping off the apparatus mid-routine.

About two hours later she was upstaged by Brazil's Rebeca Andrade on the floor exercise after landing with two feet out of bounds on two of her four tumbling passes. 

The six-tenths of a point penalty she incurred for stepping out of the marked area made the difference between gold and silver. 

Despite her flawed performances on Monday, the 27-year-old American took things in stride as she earned silver on the floor to take her Olympic medal haul to 11. 

"I've accomplished way more than my wildest dreams. Not just at this Olympics, but in the sport," a serene Biles said. 

"A couple of years ago, I didn't think I'd be back here at an Olympic Games. So competing and then walking away with four medals, I'm not mad about it. I'm pretty proud of myself." 

After Tokyo, it was unclear whether Biles would ever compete again, let