(CNN)Simone Biles has withdrawn from the individual all-around competition to focus on her mental health, USA Gymnastics announced on Wednesday.
Her withdrawal comes after the 24-year-old — one of the greatest gymnasts of all time — stepped away from a dramatic team competition on Tuesday, citing mental heath concerns as she attempts to protect “her body and mind.”USA Gymnastics said it supported her decision “wholeheartedly,” adding in its statement that Biles would be assessed every day.
“After further medical evaluation, Simone Biles has withdrawn from the final individual all-around competition at the Tokyo Olympic Games, in order to focus on her mental health,” read a statement on the USA Gymnastics’ Twitter account.
“Simone will continue to be evaluated daily to determine whether or not to participate in next week’s individual event finals. Jade Carey, who had the ninth highest score in qualifications, will participate in her place in the all-around.Read More
Simone Biles' withdrawal reminds us that she's human — and still very much the GOAT”We wholeheartedly support Simone’s decision and applaud her bravery in prioritizing her well-being. Her courage shows, yet again, why she is a role model for so many.”Biles had been one of the favorites to win gold in Thursday’s final, having won every individual all-around competition that she has entered since 2013. After Sunday’s qualifying in Tokyo, Biles had finished first with a score of 57.731.She still has the opportunity to compete in other individual events during the remainder of the Games, having qualified for individual finals in each apparatus: vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise.On Tuesday, Biles said that she was going to take the rest of the Olympics “one day at a time” as she looks to add to her haul of four gold medals won at the 2016 Rio Olympics.READ: Simone Biles doesn’t need more medals. She returned to the Olympics for something much more impactfulREAD: ‘I have to focus on my mental health,’ says Simone Biles
Photos: Superstar gymnast Simone BilesSimone Biles competes in the floor exercise during the World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany, in October 2019.Hide Caption 1 of 27
Photos: Superstar gymnast Simone BilesBiles poses after winning the gold medal in the floor exercise at the 2013 World Championships.Hide Caption 2 of 27
Photos: Superstar gymnast Simone BilesBiles dodges a bee flying near her during the medal ceremony after winning gold in the all-around final of the 2014 World Championships.Hide Caption 3 of 27
Photos: Superstar gymnast Simone BilesBiles practices in Houston in January 2016.Hide Caption 4 of 27
Photos: Superstar gymnast Simone BilesBiles competes on the balance beam at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.Hide Caption 5 of 27
Photos: Superstar gymnast Simone BilesFrom left, Laurie Hernandez, Madison Kocian, Biles, Aly Raisman and Gabby Douglas celebrate winning the gold medal during the team final of the 2016 Olympics.Hide Caption 6 of 27
Photos: Superstar gymnast Simone BilesBiles looks on during competition at the 2016 Olympics.Hide Caption 7 of 27
Photos: Superstar gymnast Simone BilesBiles reacts to a camera after winning the individual all-around final at the 2016 Olympics.Hide Caption 8 of 27
Photos: Superstar gymnast Simone BilesBiles competes on the uneven bars at the 2016 Olympics.Hide Caption 9 of 27
Photos: Superstar gymnast Simone BilesBiles’ grandfather, Ron Biles, and his wife, Nellie, watch as she waits on the podium to receive her gold medal after winning the floor final of the 2016 Olympics. They took in Simone and her younger sister, Adria, and then formally adopted them when Simone was just 6 because Simone’s mom was battling addiction to drugs and alcohol. Hide Caption 10 of 27
Photos: Superstar gymnast Simone BilesBiles competes on the floor at the 2016 Olympics.Hide Caption 11 of 27
Photos: Superstar gymnast Simone BilesBiles and other Olympic athletes play “Hungry Hungry Humans” on “The Tonight Show” with Jimmy Fallon.Hide Caption 12 of 27
Photos: Superstar gymnast Simone BilesBiles sits with Anna Wintour and Maria Sharapova during New York Fashion Week in September 2016.Hide Caption 13 of 27
Photos: Superstar gymnast Simone BilesFirst lady Michelle Obama rests her elbow on Biles’ head as President Barack Obama speaks during an Olympic athletes event at the White House in September 2016.Hide Caption 14 of 27
Photos: Superstar gymnast Simone BilesBiles takes a photo with a young fan in her hometown of Houston in September 2016.Hide Caption 15 of 27
Photos: Superstar gymnast Simone BilesBiles speaks onstage during Glamour’s Women of the Year event in 2016.Hide Caption 16 of 27
Photos: Superstar gymnast Simone BilesBiles competes in “Dancing with the Stars” with Sasha Farber in 2017.Hide Caption 17 of 27
Photos: Superstar gymnast Simone BilesBiles speaks after receiving the ESPY Award for best female athlete in 2017.Hide Caption 18 of 27
Photos: Superstar gymnast Simone BilesBiles performs with the Houston Texans cheerleaders in December 2017.Hide Caption 19 of 27
Photos: Superstar gymnast Simone BilesBiles competes on the uneven bars during the 2018 World Championships.Hide Caption 20 of 27
Photos: Superstar gymnast Simone BilesBiles rests behind teammates during qualifying sessions for the 2018 World Championships in Doha, Qatar.Hide Caption 21 of 27
Photos: Superstar gymnast Simone BilesBiles performs on the floor during the 2018 World Championships.Hide Caption 22 of 27
Photos: Superstar gymnast Simone BilesBiles performs on the uneven bars at the 2019 World Championships.Hide Caption 23 of 27
Photos: Superstar gymnast Simone BilesBiles celebrates after winning the beam apparatus final at the 2019 World Championships.Hide Caption 24 of 27
Photos: Superstar gymnast Simone BilesBiles becomes the first woman in history to land a Yurchenko double pike vault in competition during the GK US Classic in May 2021.Hide Caption 25 of 27
Photos: Superstar gymnast Simone BilesBiles stumbles on her vault landing while competing in the team all-around at the Tokyo Olympics in July 2021. Biles then pulled out of the competition over mental-health concerns.Hide Caption 26 of 27
Photos: Superstar gymnast Simone BilesBiles wears her warm-up gear after she was pulled from the team all-around competition at the Tokyo Olympics on July 27. She “will be assessed daily to determine medical clearance for future competitions,” USA Gymnastics said in a statement. The gymnastics body announced the next day that Biles had also withdrawn from the individual all-around competition to focus on her mental health.Hide Caption 27 of 27
‘I have to focus on my mental health’
The eyes of the world were on Biles this week as she aimed to add to her remarkable legacy.However, her emotional interview after Tuesday’s team final put the issue of mental health front and center of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Earlier that day, Naomi Osaka, who has also talked openly about her own mental health struggles, was knocked out of the women’s Olympic tennis tournament.
“Whenever you get in a high stress situation, you kind of freak out,” Biles told reporters on Tuesday. “I have to focus on my mental health and not jeopardize my health and well-being.”It just sucks when you’re fighting with your own head.”
Source: edition.cnn.com
