With a salute and a silver medal, Simone Biles shows the humanity that goes with her greatness | Tumaini Carayol

Despite an imperfect day on the beam and the floor, the American has re-established herself as the world's best

As Simone Biles closed out her final transcendent floor routine and saluted to the judges, she held her arms above her head in a salute for as long as she could. It was partly a cheeky, sarcastic gesture, a reference to the deduction she seemingly received in the preceding final for not properly saluting to all judges, but it was also perfect. Bercy Arena, filled again for one last glimpse of her this year, responded by saluting her in turn with a long, heartfelt ovation.

Although Biles did not close out her Paris Olympics with a golden picturesque finish in a chaotic last day of artistic gymnastics, her final day of competition in Paris was rather an exhibition of the sportsmanship and humanity that has accompanied her greatness. After a fall on the balance beam led to a fifth-place finish, Biles won a silver medal on the floor exercise.