Simone Biles Olympic run is NOT over yet. On Monday morning, after Team USA’s Mikayla Skinner took silver in vault, Suni Lee took bronze on bars, and Jade Carey won gold on floor, Biles revealed that she will be competing in the beam final. Her teammate and the all-around champion, Lee, will join her.
As Mamas Uncut reported, Simone Biles has withdrawn from all other Olympic events, including the team final and the individual all-around final.
In a statement shared by USA Gymnastics at the time of her initial withdrawal, “After further medical evaluation, Simone Biles has withdrawn from the final individual all-around competition at the Tokyo Olympic Games, in order to focus on her mental health. Simone will continue to be evaluated daily to determine whether or not to participate in next week’s individual event finals. 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.”
When it comes to the sport of gymnastics, this Olympics is not what the world expected to witness. Many people predicted and hoped for a repeat of 2016, in which Biles took home five medals, four of them gold.
However, the world was stunned when Biles pulled out of the team final competition after competing only in the vault, ultimately citing the “twisties.” Biles was expected to attempt the Amanar on the vault during the team final competition, which is a roundoff onto the springboard, back handspring onto the vaulting platform, and into 2½ twists in a back layout salto off the table.
However, during her performance, Simone Biles seemingly got lost in the air and had to bail after only completing one-and-a-half twists. Thankfully, Biles still landed on the mat safely, but it was enough for her and her coaches to make the decision to withdraw her from the rest of the competition
According to the BBC, the twisties is actually a “mental block that affects physical performance.” It’s extremely dangerous for gymnasts to throw the level of stunts that Simone Biles throws when dealing with the twisties. The twisties cause gymnasts to “lose their sense of space and dimension” while they are in the air.
“At the end of the day, where we’re human too so we have to protect our mind in our body rather than just go out there and do what the world wants us to do,” Biles said, according to The New York Times. “With the year that it’s been. I’m really not surprised how it played out.”
“And it’s just it’s not worth it, especially when you have three amazing athletes that can step up to the plate and do it, not worth it.”
Now, Simone Biles is back!
On August 3, Biles will close out her Olympic career by competing in the balance beam final on August 3. She could also tie the record for most Olympic medals won by a U.S. gymnast, which is currently held by Shannon Miller with 7 and the record for most Olympic gold medals won by a U.S. gymnast currently held by Anton Heida with 5.
“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,” USAG wrote on Twitter. Can’t wait to watch you both!”
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