Simone Biles has been forced to withdraw from the individual all-around final at the Tokyo Olympics after suffering a back injury. Biles was attempting to become the first woman in history to win four gold medals in one Olympics, but she will now be replaced by teammate Aly Raisman.
Simone Biles has been eliminated from the individual all-around final due to a fall on her balance beam routine.
Following her vault in the first rotation of the women’s team final, Simone Biles withdrew.
Following her vault in the first rotation of the women’s team final, Simone Biles withdrew.| Dates: July 23rd to August 8th, Tokyo time: BST +8 |
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Simone Biles, a four-time Olympic gold medalist from the United States, has withdrawn from the individual all-around final in Tokyo on Thursday.
After dropping out of the women’s team final on Tuesday, Biles, the most accomplished US gymnast of all time, claimed she needed to concentrate on her mental health.
Biles’ choice to prioritize her mental health was lauded by the leader of the US Olympic team and other competitors.
In Tokyo, the 24-year-old has advanced to all five individual finals.
She was scheduled to defend her all-around title on Thursday, August 1st, before participating in the vault and uneven bars finals on Sunday, August 1st, floor finals on Monday, August 2nd, and beam finals on Tuesday, August 3rd.
“Simone will continue to be assessed daily to decide whether or not to compete in next week’s individual event finals,” USA Gymnastics stated.
“We fully support Simone’s choice and admire her courage in putting her own health first. Her bravery exemplifies why she is such a great model for so many people.”
Biles withdrew from the team final after scoring her lowest Olympic vault score in the first rotation.
She left the stadium briefly before returning to cheer on her teammates as the reigning champions took silver behind the Russian Olympic Committee.
Biles’ sixth Olympic medal came in the form of a team silver in Tokyo, bringing her total Olympic and World Championship medals to 30.
After withdrawing from the team final at the Tokyo Olympics, Biles claims she ‘put mental health first.’
“I simply didn’t want to go on after the performance I performed,” Biles remarked afterward. I need to concentrate on my mental wellness. Mental health seems to be more prominent in sports right now, in my opinion.
“We must safeguard our brains and bodies rather than just doing what the world wants us to do.”
“I don’t have as much faith in myself as I used to.” Maybe it’s because I’m growing older. There were a few days when everyone was tweeting at you and you felt the weight of the world on your shoulders.
“We’re not simply sportspeople. At the end of the day, we’re all just humans, and sometimes you just have to take a step back.”
“We commend your choice to prioritize your mental health above everything else,” Sarah Hirshland, chief executive of the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee, stated. “We give you the entire support and resources of our Team USA community as you navigate the road ahead.”
Several competitors have complimented Biles, like Danusia Francis of Jamaica, who said: “I don’t know about you, but I believe Simone Biles has simply inspired everyone to prioritize their mental health above everything else. What a queen she is. In more ways than one, he’s the GOAT.”
‘Biles came back and cheered on her teammates – that’s what a champion does.’
“Watching things develop yesterday I was becoming more and more angry,” 2016 hockey gold medalist Sam Quek remarked on Olympics Breakfast regarding Simone Biles and mental health in sport.
“I’d read headlines that said she was weak, that she couldn’t handle the strain because she wasn’t psychologically strong enough.” People accused her of using it as an excuse to leave since she wasn’t doing well on social media. It’s utter rubbish.
“She said that she wasn’t in the proper mental state to go out and perform well enough, and that she might have hurt herself.” Every athlete understands that going into a competition half-cocked will result in injury, and gymnastics is no exception.
“More significantly, she’s set the groundwork for so many athletes and people across the globe to say, ‘You know what, the amount of pressure, the number of eyeballs on me right now, something doesn’t seem right.’ It’s incredible that she had the guts and bravery to withdraw from the event.
“To those who accuse her of not being a team player and preferring to concentrate on herself, she could not have been more of a team player in my opinion.
“Simone might have remained in the shadows. She could have remained in the locker room and kept the rest of the world wondering, but she didn’t. She put on her tracksuit again, walked out onto the field, and applauded her teammates. That, in my opinion, is a champion.”
Mears on his post-Olympic depression: ‘It all came tumbling down.’
“I can connect to that,” Chris Mears, a fellow former Olympic winner, remarked. She feels as though the weight of the world is resting on her shoulders.
“She feels like she’s failed, and she’s probably perplexed and unsure of what’s going on.” It ought to be applauded.
“It felt incredible after winning gold in Rio. It was as if all of your greatest fantasies had come true. Then it all came tumbling down on me. I was at a loss for words. No one ever tells you how to become an Olympic champion.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Simone Biles drop out of individual?
Yes, Simone Biles has dropped out of individual.
Will Simone Biles compete in the individual all-around?
Simone Biles will compete in the individual all-around.
