You’ve seen the clips. A 4-foot-8 powerhouse standing on a piece of wood no wider than an iPhone, performing gravity-defying flips like it’s a sidewalk. But here’s the thing: the Simone Biles beam routine isn't just about the flips. Honestly, it’s a psychological chess match. If you ask any elite gymnast, they’ll tell you the beam is the "equalizer." You can be the strongest person in the world, but if your breathing is off by a fraction, you’re hitting the floor.
Simone makes it look like a breeze, but the math behind her difficulty scores is actually kind of terrifying. In the 2024 Paris Olympics, she rolled out a routine that was so packed with "E" and "F" level skills that she could literally wobble and still outscore most of the field. Most people focus on the floor or the vault because they’re loud and explosive. The beam? That’s where the real nerves live.
What Actually Goes Into the Simone Biles Beam Routine?
If you look at the nitty-gritty of her set, it’s basically an efficiency masterclass. Her coaches, Cecile and Laurent Landi, designed a routine that hits all the requirements without wasting energy on "fluff." For the 2024 season, her Difficulty (D) score sat around a 6.2 to 6.5. To put that in perspective, a "good" elite beam routine is usually in the 5.0 range.
She starts with a switch leap mount. Most gymnasts just jump onto the beam. Simone? She leaps into a split while she’s still in the air. From there, it’s a relentless chain of connections. She does a back handspring into two consecutive layout step-outs. It’s her signature series. If she misses the rhythm on the first one, the whole thing falls apart.
👉 See also: Why the Raptors Starting Lineup is the NBA’s Most Chaotic Science Experiment
The Skills That Make Judges Sweat
- The Wolf Turn: Everyone hates this move. It’s that crouched-down spinning thing that looks like a breakdance move gone wrong. Simone does a triple (three full rotations). It’s high-risk because if you lose your center of gravity, you spin right off the edge.
- The Aerial Cartwheel: She does this with no hands. It’s a D-rated skill that she uses to bridge into other jumps.
- The Front Pike: This is a forward-flipping move where her legs are straight and her toes are pointed. It’s notoriously hard to land because you can’t see the beam until the very last second.
The "Low-Balled" Legend: The Biles Dismount
We have to talk about the dismount. It’s officially called The Biles. It is a double-twisting double backflip. Read that again. She flips twice and twists twice before her feet touch the mat.
When she first submitted this skill to the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), it caused a huge drama. The committee gave it an "H" rating. That sounds high, but the gymnastics community was furious. Basically, they "low-balled" the score because they were worried other gymnasts would try it, fail, and break their necks. They literally penalized her for being too good. Simone didn't hold back on social media about it either, calling out the unfairness of not being rewarded for pushing the sport's boundaries.
Dealing With the "Twisties" on Four Inches of Wood
You probably remember the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. It was the first time we really saw the human side of the GOAT. She got the "twisties"—a terrifying mental block where your brain and body stop communicating in mid-air. On the vault, it’s dangerous. On the beam? It’s a nightmare.
By the time she got to Paris in 2024, the Simone Biles beam routine was her redemption arc. She worked with a therapist throughout the Games, even checking in on the morning of her finals. It worked. Mostly. During the individual beam final in Paris, the arena was eerily quiet. Simone actually struggled with that. She said the atmosphere was "weird and awkward." She could hear camera shutters and ringtones. She ended up slipping on a leap and finishing fifth, but honestly, just being up there after what she went through in Tokyo was the real win.
📖 Related: Ohio State Buckeyes Mens Basketball: Why This Season Feels Different
How to Watch Her Routine Like an Expert
Next time you’re watching her, don’t just look at the flips. Look at her feet.
- Check the "Relevé": Watch how much time she spends on her tiptoes. High relevé means better control and fewer deductions.
- Listen for the Connections: Judges look for "flow." If there’s even a tiny pause between a back handspring and a layout, she loses tenth of a point.
- The Chest Position: On beam landings, you want the chest up. Simone has so much power that she often has to fight to keep from lurching forward.
The Simone Biles beam routine isn't just a sports performance; it's a 90-second survival drill. She’s currently 28, which is "old" in gymnastics years, but she’s still out-powering girls ten years younger. Whether she continues toward the 2028 LA Olympics or not, the "Biles" dismount has permanently changed the Code of Points.
If you want to understand the technical side better, start by watching her 2024 Core Hydration Classic routine in slow motion. You'll notice she doesn't just "land" skills—she grips the beam with her feet in a way that almost defies physics. Keep an eye on the execution scores (the E-score). Even when she wobbles, her technique is so clean that her deductions are minimal compared to the rest of the world.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Aspiring Athletes:
- Study the Code: If you're a fan, learn what an "H" skill looks like versus a "D" skill. It makes the scoring controversy much more interesting.
- Mental Health Matters: Take a page from Simone's book—performance is 90% mental. If your head isn't right, the physical part won't follow.
- Watch the Feet: For those learning gymnastics, notice her "active" feet. She doesn't just stand; she actively uses her toes to find the center of the beam.