Biles Shares Personal Challenges In Tokyo: ‘Weight Of The World On My Shoulders’
Wednesday, July 28, 2021 at 02:34PM By Barry Janoff
UPDATED July 28, 2021: USA Gymnastics said today in a statement that Simone Biles has decided not to defend her title at Thursday’s all-around competition (July 29) at the Tokyo Olympics.
On Tuesday (July 27), calling it more of a mental health issue than a physical one, Biles withdrew from Olympic gymnastics competition, with the USA team then earning silver in the Women's Team Finals as Biles cheered them on.
The moment was seen by a national audience via NBC Olympics broadcast platforms.
“After further medical evaluation, Simone Biles has withdrawn from the final individual all-around competition at the Tokyo Olympic Games, in order to focus on her mental health," USA Gymnastics said today in a statement.
"Simone will continue to be evaluated daily to determine whether or not to participate in next week’s individual event finals."
Biles is currently scheduled to compete in the vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor event finals.
On Tuesday, USA Gymnastics said in a statement, "Simone Biles has withdrawn from the team final competition due to a medical issue.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.”
Earlier, during a vault, she failed to complete her full rotations and stumbled on her landing. She would then leave with a trainer, but return to cheer on and support her teammates.
During the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, Biles was a five-time medalist, winning gold in the team final, individual all-around, vault and floor finals; and bronze in the beam event.
“We wholeheartedly support Simone’s decision and applaud her bravery in prioritizing her well-being,” according to USA Gymnastics. "Her courage shows, yet again, why she is a role model for so many.”
She also arrived in Tokyo representing such brands as United Airline, Visa, Mondelez (Oreo), Uber Eats, Core Power and Athletica. Spots running during the Games have been temporarily pulled off-air.
On Sunday (July 25), after earning a spot in the six gymnastic events, the 24-year-old Biles posted to her social media platform, “It wasn’t an easy day or my best but I got through it. I truly do feel that I have the weight of the world on my shoulders at times.
"I know I brush it off and make it seem like pressure doesn’t effect me, but damn sometimes it’s hard hahaha! The Olympics are no joke! BUT I’m happy my family was able to be with me virtually. They mean the world to me!”
“I’m okay,” she said during post-competition interviews on Tuesday. “Physically I feel good. Emotionally, that varies depending on the moment. Coming here and being the ‘lead star’ is not an easy feat. I’m going to take one day at a time and we’ll see.
“These Olympic Games have been really stressful. It’s been a long Olympic process. It’s been a long year. We should be out here having fun and sometimes that’s not the case.
“It wasn’t an easy day or my best but I got through it. I truly do feel that I have the weight of the world on my shoulders at times."
“We also have to focus on ourselves, because at the end of the day we’re human, too,” Biles said. “So, we have to protect our mind and our body, rather than just go out there and do what the world wants us to do.”
Biles is still scheduled to defend her Olympic title in the all-around final on Thursday. She also qualified for all four event finals later in the Games.
"We’re going to take it one day at a time and just check and see.
"We’re just dealing with a couple of things right now. So we’re just going to focus at heading into other competitions," the 24-year-old Biles said. "But I’m excited that these girls could step up to the plate as fast as they could with the switch out and I’m proud of how they did tonight."
"This Olympic Games, I wanted it to be for myself. But I was still doing it for other people. It hurts my heart that doing what I love has been kind of taken away from me to please other people."
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