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28th Jul 2021

Simone Biles pulls out of all-round individual final to ‘focus on her mental health’

Charlie Herbert

She withdrew from the women’s team final on Tuesday.

Simone Biles has withdrawn from her second event of the Tokyo Olympics, with US Gymnastics confirming that she will not be taking part in the women’s individual all-round final on Thursday.

The news comes just a day after she withdrew from the women’s team event, with Biles saying that she had to focus on her mental health.

In a statement, USA gymnastics said: “After further medical evaluation, Simone Biles has withdrawn from the final individual all-around competition at the Tokyo Olympic Games, in order to focus on her mental health.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 prioritising her wellbeing. Her courage shows, yet again, why she is a role model for so many.”

Gymnast Jade Carey will take Biles’ place in the final as the next highest scoring gymnast in qualification.

The 24-year-old is still due to compete in individual events throughout next week. These are the finals of the vault and uneven bars on Sunday, 1 August, floor on Monday, 2 August and beam on Tuesday, 3 August.

She withdrew from the US team during their participation in the women’s team event on Tuesday after scoring her lowest Olympic vault score in her first event.

Biles left the arena for a few minutes before her withdrawal was confirmed. She then returned to the arena to cheer on her fellow teammates, with the US team eventually going on to win silver behind the Russian Olympic Committee.

After this event she said: “After the performance I did, I just didn’t want to go on. I have to focus on my mental health. I just think mental health is more prevalent in sports right now.

“We have to protect our minds and our bodies and not just go out and do what the world wants us to do.

“I don’t trust myself as much anymore. Maybe it’s getting older. There were a couple of days when everybody tweets you and you feel the weight of the world.

“We’re not just athletes. We’re people at the end of the day and sometimes you just have to step back.”