The women's balance beam event at the 2024 Summer Olympics was held 28 July and 5 August 2024 at the Accor Arena (referred to as the Bercy Arena due to IOC sponsorship rules). 78 gymnasts from 35 nations (of the 95 total gymnasts) competed on balance beam in the qualifying round.
Background This was the 20th appearance of the event, after making its debut at the 1952 Summer Olympics. Reigning champion Guan Chenchen retired in October of 2022.https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2022/10/28/guan-chenchen-retire-gymnastics-balance-beam-china/
Qualification
A National Olympic Committee (NOC) could enter up to 5 qualified gymnasts. A total of 95 quota places are allocated to women's artistic gymnastics.
The 12 teams that qualified were able to send 5 gymnasts in the team competition, for a total of 60 of the 95 quota places. The top three teams at the 2022 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships (the United States, Great Britain, and Canada) and the top nine teams (excluding those already qualified) at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships (China, Brazil, Italy, the Netherlands, France, Japan, Australia, Romania, and South Korea) earned team qualification places.
The remaining 35 quota places are awarded individually. Each gymnast can only earn one place. These places are filled through various criteria based on the 2023 World Championships, the 2024 FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Cup series, continental championships, a reallocation guarantee and a Tripartite Commission invitation.
Each of the 95 qualified gymnasts are eligible for the balance beam competition, but many gymnasts do not compete in each of the apparatus events.
Competition format The top eight qualifiers in the qualification phase (limit two per NOC) advanced to the apparatus final. The finalists performed on the balance beam again. Qualification scores were then ignored, with only final round scores counting.
Schedule Date Time Round Subdivision28 July 09:30 Qualification Subdivision 1 11:40 Subdivision 2 14:50 Subdivision 3 18:00 Subdivision 4 21:10 Subdivision 5 5 August 12:35 Final – All times are Central European Summer Time (UTC+02:00)
Results
Qualifying
The gymnasts who ranked in the top eight qualified for the final round. In a case where more than two gymnasts from the same NOC were in the top eight, the last ranked among them would not qualify to final round. The next-best ranked gymnast would qualify instead.
Rank Gymnast Total 1 6.6 8.266 14.866 Q 2 6.4 8.333 14.733 Q 3 6.1 8.400 14.500 Q 4 6.0 8.033 14.033 Q 5 6.1 7.900 14.000 Q 6 5.6 8.366 13.966 Q 7 5.6 8.266 13.866 Q 8 5.6 8.200 13.800 Q 9 5.6 8.166 13.766 R1 10 5.8 7.966 13.766 R2 11 6.2 7.533 13.733 R3
Reserves The reserves for the balance beam event final were:
Final
Rank Gymnast Total 5.8 8.566 14.366 6.6 7.500 14.100 5.8 8.200 14.000 4 5.7 8.233 13.933 5 6.2 7.200 0.300 13.100 6 6.2 6.900 13.100 7 5.3 7.033 12.333 8 5.8 5.933 11.733
References