This one we didn't see coming, you guys. In a shocking turn of events, Simone Biles withdrew from the USA women's gymnastic teams on July 27th, the fourth day of the Tokyo Olympics.
Official statement: "Simone Biles has withdrawn from the team final competition due to a medical issue. She will be assessed daily to determine medical clearance for future competitions."
— USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) July 27, 2021
Thinking of you, Simone! pic.twitter.com/QA1GYHwWTv
The news broke following an official statement from USA Gymnastics, which stated that Simone opted out of her team's final round "due to a medical issue." They went on to explain that "she will be assessed daily to determine medical clearance for future competitions." So what happened? Well, Biles appeared during an official Olympic press event to share her side of the story. And she wanted to make it clear that there were no rips, tears, or breaks to be worried about, rather it was her mental health that was impacting her time in Tokyo.
"I was just, like, shaking, could barely nap," the 24-year-old athlete explained. "I just never felt like this going into a competition before. And I tried to go out there and have fun." But like she said, something was different this time around, and she couldn't ignore it. "Warm up in the back went a little better, but then once I came out here I was like, 'No, mental is not there so I just need to let the girls do it and focus on myself,'" she continued. But the bumps continued along the way. "I didn't want to risk the team a medal for my screwups because they've worked way too hard for that so I just decided that those girls need to go and do the rest of the competition," Biles explained.
It was clear from Simone's Instagram post that she was feeling the pressure this year. She shared in her caption that the young athlete felt the "weight of the world on [her] shoulders at times," and was having trouble "brushing it off." But even with the shocking news, Simone's fans showed the love. "You are incredible, always amazed by you," one follower wrote.
Wishing nothing but the best for the GOAT! Check back soon for more Simone news...
