Simone Biles Withdraws From The Individual All-Around Final At Tokyo Olympics

UPDATE: Simone Biles Says She Withdrew From Team Competition To Focus On Mental Health, Not Sure If She’ll Return To Olympics This Year: We’re Going To Take It Day By Day

Update #3 (July 28th – 7:00am EST): Simone Biles withdrew from Thursday’s all-around competition to focus on her mental well-being.
USA Gymnastics said in a statement on Wednesday that the 24-year-old is opting to not compete. The decision comes a day after Biles removed herself from the team final following one rotation because she felt she wasn’t mentally ready.

The organization said Biles will be evaluated daily before deciding if she will participate in next week’s individual events.
Update #2 (July 27th – 11:15 am EST): The pressure of competing on the world’s Olympic stage became too much for Simone Biles. 

She broke her silence on her decision to withdraw from the Olympic team final and said in a press conference,

“I feel like I’m also not having as much fun – and this Olympic Games I wanted it to be for myself and it felt like I was still doing for other people – and that hurts my heart that doing what I love has been taken away from me.”

She added that she was inspired by other Olympic stars like Naomi Osaka, who previously took a break from the tennis court to focus on her mental health.

One of the most remarkable mixed zone press conferences I’ve known. In which Simone Biles described pulling out of tonight’s team event because she had to put her mental health first. Says she was inspired by Naomi Osaka among others #Olympics #ArtisticGymnastics pic.twitter.com/p3Rli5S7J0

— Ian Herbert (@ianherbs) July 27, 2021

Simone Biles also spoke with Hoda Kotb on TODAY this morning (July 27th) and said,

“Physically, I feel good, I’m in shape. Emotionally, that kind of varies on the time and moment. Coming to the Olympics and being head star isn’t an easy feat, so we’re just trying to take it one day at a time and we’ll see.”

She’s still uncertain if she’ll return to the Olympics this Thursday (July 29th). She added,

“We’re going to take it day by day and we’re just gonna see.” 

Original Story (July 27th): Simone Biles, who’s often considered the world’s greatest gymnast, is out of the team finals at this year’s Tokyo Olympics.

U.S. gymnast Simone Biles pulled out of the event earlier today (July 27th). The 24-year-old gymnast’s departure was first announced via the International Federation of Gymnastics’ (FIG’s) Twitter account. The FIG wrote:

“Confirmed: After one routine, Simone Biles will sit out the rest of the Women’s Team final in #ArtisticGymnastics at #Tokyo2020 #Olympics.

The news was later confirmed by the actual Twitter page associated with the Tokyo Olympics. Additionally, it was revealed that Simone Biles injured her foot before making her decision to withdraw. The Tokyo 2020 page tweeted:

“Biles has returned to arena with her foot strapped heavily. Jordan Chiles will perform next on the uneven bars in Biles’s place.”

The page continued:

“It has been confirmed that #SimoneBiles has withdrawn from tonight’s women’s #ArtisticGymnastics finals.”

See additional reports below.

Regarding her decision, Team USA issued a statement, reading:

“Simone has withdrawn from the team final competition due to a medical issue. She will be assessed daily to determine medical clearance for future competitions.”

Team USA did not specify the medical issue, and it is presently unclear whether or not Simone Biles will perform in other events at the Tokyo Olympics.

The news comes a day after Simone Biles issued an Instagram post in which she commented on the pressure she was feeling. The gymnast wrote:

“It wasn’t an easy day or my best but I got through it. I truly do feel like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders at times. I know I brush it off and make it seem like pressure doesn’t affect me but d*mn sometimes it’s hard hahaha! The olympics is no joke! BUT I’m happy my family was able to be with me virtually. [T]hey mean the world to me!”

Simone Biles has not yet commented her decision to withdraw.

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