By Karen Braun and Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber
PARIS (Reuters) – With big names Simone Biles and Sunisa Lee up against her in Monday’s balance beam final at the Paris Olympics, Alice D’Amato did not expect to walk away with gold.
The 21-year-old Italian moved securely and confidently through her routine, sticking her dismount and clapping with a smile to celebrate her strong performance.
On any other day, her clean exercise might not have been enough for the win but falls from Biles, Lee and other competitors paved the way for D’Amato’s victory.
“Beating Simone and Sunisa was only possible because both of them fell off the beam,” D’Amato said, adding that she had benefited from this “stroke of luck”.
“But this is how a beam final works. The one who can best withstand the pressure, use it to her advantage and perform the best exercises will win. Today, this person was me.”
D’Amato, who also won silver with Italy in the team event, has a twin sister, Asia, who is also a gymnast on the Italian team but had to sit out the Paris Games with a knee injury requiring surgery.
The twins’ father, Massimo, died two years ago after a long illness, leaving a deep void in their lives.
“I’m at a loss for words… what did you do my little sister?” Asia posted on Instagram after Alice won gold.
“Dad, this is for you.”
Italy had never before won an Olympic medal on the beam but ended the day with two as, in addition to D’Amato’s gold, her teammate Manila Esposito came away with the bronze. China’s Zhou Yaqin took silver.
“The fact that I was also able to listen to the national anthem thanks to Alicia was an incredible feeling,” Esposito said. “I had goosebumps.”
Despite her fifth-place finish in the final, Biles offered admiration to her Italian rivals.
“Today they went out there and they did the job,” said Biles, the most decorated gymnast of all-time.
“They did phenomenal beam routines. I’m super excited and proud for them because now they are building the blocks for the younger Italian girls.”
(Reporting by Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber, Karen Braun, Rory Carroll and Chang-Ran Kim; Editing by Clare Fallon)
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