Silence is not golden: Simone Biles and Suni Lee discuss ‘awkward’ beam final

“It was really weird and awkward, not our favorite. None of us liked it,” Biles told reporters after finishing fifth of eight on the beam despite having qualified in second place.

Although it might seem counterintuitive, gymnasts often prefer noisy arenas, even on an apparatus as precarious as the 10cm-wide beam, since it helps the athlete to focus more on the task at hand.

“Honestly, we do better in environments when there’s noise going on because it feels most like practice,” Biles said.

While several gymnasts are seen competing simultaneously on multiple apparatus during the team and all around finals, the format of apparatus finals means only one individual competes at any given time.

It adds to the pressure as each performer is keenly aware that every set of eyes in the arena is centered upon them.

“You could feel the tension in the room. I mean, the crowd shushing us for cheering like we were, we didn’t like that because it’s just so silent in there,” Lee, one of four finalists to suffer a fall off the beam, said after placing sixth.

“I love hearing my teammates cheer for me.”