Simone Biles shocked the world when she decided to pull out of the team event finals at the Tokyo Olympics on July 27. Over the course of the next few days,
Biles also withdrew from the individual all-around competition, as well as the vault, uneven bar, and floor finals, in order to focus on her mental health.
During the team finals, the 24-year-old gymnast left the competition floor after performing an uncharacteristically faulty vault and was seen by Team USA’s medical trainer, according to People. USA Gymnastics released a statement saying that Biles had withdrawn “due to a medical issue” and Biles’ coach told NBC, “Physically she is fine. But she is done for the night.”
Biles then stayed to cheer on her teammates Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, and Grace McCallum for the rest of the competition. Ultimately, the U.S. women’s team took home silver, while the Russian Olympic Committee took gold.
After team finals, Biles spoke with reporters, saying she was “dealing with things internally that will get fixed in the next few days,” according to BBC Sport. Callie Caplan, an Olympics reporter for Dallas Morning News, tweeted that Biles said she decided to “take a backseat” on Tuesday to “work on my mindfulness.” Biles later explained on her Instagram Story that she was experiencing the “twisties,” a mental block that makes it difficult for gymnasts to understand where their bodies are in the air. “For anyone saying I quit, I didn’t quit, my mind and body are simply not in sync...” she wrote on Instagram. “I don’t think you realize how dangerous this is on a hard/competition surface.”
When Biles chose to withdraw from the individual all-around competition, USA Gymnastics released a statement that said: “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.”
After further medical evaluation, Simone Biles has withdrawn from the final individual all-around competition. 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. pic.twitter.com/6ILdtSQF7o
— USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) July 28, 2021
With Biles out of the competition, Lee took home gold in the women’s individual all-around gymnastics final and became the first Hmong American to win an Olympic gold medal. Team USA’s MyKayla Skinner was able to step in for the vault finals, where she won silver, while Team USA’s Jade Carey took gold on floor.
However, the Olympics aren’t over for Biles. The gymnastics champion could still win big at this year’s games, as she’s officially confirmed to compete in the balance beam final on Tuesday, along with Lee.
In a tweet, USA Gymnastics said: “We are so excited to confirm that you will see two U.S. athletes in the balance beam final tomorrow - Suni Lee AND Simone Biles!! Can’t wait to watch you both!”
We are so excited to confirm that you will see two U.S. athletes in the balance beam final tomorrow - Suni Lee AND Simone Biles!! Can’t wait to watch you both!
— USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) August 2, 2021
During the 2016 Rio Olympics, Biles won bronze in the beam finals. She also won gold in the team event and individual all-around, as well as floor and vault finals.
It’s unclear if this year Biles will change her planned routine on beam to account for the “twisties.” But no matter what she decides to perform on Tuesday, one thing is certain: By prioritizing her mental health and safety, and in turn encouraging other athletes to do the same, Simone Biles remains the greatest gymnast of all time.
This post has been updated.