Simon Biles is as shocked as you are.
But she may be in a better place emotionally than many Dancing with the Stars fans at the moment.
On Monday night, the ABC reality competition delivered its latest shocker, announcing that Biles had been eliminated a week prior to the finals…
… despite garnering TWO perfect scores just minutes before getting the axe.
On the live semifinal episode, viewers watched the final four celebrities – Simone Biles, David Ross, Rashad Jennings and Normani Kordei – compete for a chance to win the whole shebang next Monday night.
After Jennings and Kordei were confirmed as safe, Biles, Ross and their partners were left standing.
And that’s when host Tom Bergeron uttered the words very few expected him to say.
“The couple leaving right now is… Simone and Sasha.”
Cue a collective gasp from the audience and expressions of amazement from the judges.
“I am in absolute shock,” said co-host Erin Andrews.
Earlier in the evening, during a pre-taped video package, Biles grew emotional when recounting some of the judges’ critiques from previous weeks.
She had infamously been told to smile and enjoy herself more on the dance floor, for instance.
“Last week was really fun. I loved both of our dances, but the judges’ comments hurt,” Biles said during rehearsals this week, adding:
“It made me feel like I didn’t work hard enough, but I knew I had.”
Speaking through tears to partner Sasha Farber, Biles also said the following:
“I feel like I’ve been trying my hardest and they just keep saying no. I can only try so hard until I’m done.”
And now she is done, although it certainly wasn’t for a lack of effort, lack of talent or even a lack of strong scores.
“I found out a lot about myself,” Biles told reporters after her elimination.
“I think today I experienced what they wanted. It felt refreshing. I did feel free, so I cant ask anymore. We went out with a bang.”
The gymnast, of course, has a Gold Medal to go home to, so we need not shed too many tears for Simone Biles.
She has proven herself on a stage much larger and much more significant than Dancing with the Stars.
It’s a perspective Biles seems to fortunately possess, as she told journalists last night that a few weeks off does sound awfully nice right about now.
“I’ve been going nonstop since the Olympics,” said the star athlete, who plans on waiting a year before getting back into he gym to train to compete for a spot on the 2020 U.S. Olympic team.
“I’m going to take time off, go on vacations, spend family time, friend time. I’m going to take some time and finally relax.”
Well deserved, that’s for sure!
What do you think of Biles getting the boot?
And who do you think will take home the Mirrorball Trophy next week?