Six-Time Olympic Medalist Simeone Biles Withdraws From Women’s All-Round Final

Six-time Olympic Medalist and star US Gymnast Simeone Biles has decided to not participate in Thursday’s women’s all-round final at Ariake Gymnastics centre at the ongoing Tokyo Olympic Games 2020.

According to USA Gymnastics, she decided to withdraw from the final individual all-round competition, to focus on her “mental health”. After missing an attempt at a two-and-a-half twisting vault, Biles scratched from Tuesday’s women’s team final. Even without its star athlete, USA managed to claim the silver medal behind champion ROC.

“After further medical evaluation, Simone Biles has withdrawn from the final individual all-around competition at the Tokyo Olympic Games, in order to focus on her mental health,” read a statement from the governing body.

“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.”

“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,” the statement concluded.

“I think they get a gold medal in fighting. They never gave up,” Biles told Olympics.com.

“And look at them, they did exactly what I said they would do, they were going to go out there and do what they were supposed to. Now, they’re Olympic silver medallists.”

“I was like, ‘I think the girls need to do the rest of the competition without me,’ and they were like, ‘I promise you, you’re fine. We watched you warm up.’ And I said, ‘no, I know I’m going to be fine, but I can’t risk a medal for the team, so I need to call it’,” Biles explained in a post-event press conference.

“And you usually don’t hear me say things like that because I’ll usually persevere and push through things, but not to cost the team a medal.” Biles has qualified for all four of the apparatus finals with the vault and uneven bars finals set for August 1, floor exercise on August 2.