Following Simone Biles’ unexpected withdrawal from the women’s gymnastics team final in Japan, the 24-year-old gold medalist emphasized to reporters that life encompasses more than just gymnastics
Biles explained that she withdrew from the competition following a difficult landing on vault to prioritize her well-being and mental health. ‘Although it’s disappointing that this happened at this point, especially since I had hoped for a better Olympics, I’m taking it one day at a time,’ she said, adding, ‘we’ll see how the rest unfolds.
the athlete scored a 13.766 on the vault — the lowest of her career — then swiftly left the floor and sat out the rest of the competition. For the final three events, Biles stood on the sideline sporting a Team USA warm-up and cheered on her teammates, who eventually took home the Silver medal.
According to the live broadcast, Biles’ sudden departure was not due to an injury but a “mental issue” she was having. One of her coaches told NBC that “physically is fine, but she is done for tonight.”