Distraught Simone Biles pulls out of Olympics team final: 'I was still struggling with some things'

[aggiesal]

Source: USA Today Sports

TOKYO – A distraught Simone Biles pulled out of the Olympic team final on Tuesday, leaving in the middle of the competition after struggling to land a vault.

"After the performance that I did, I didn’t want to go into any of the other events second guessing myself, so I thought it was better if I took a step back and let these girls go out there and do the job and they did just that," Biles said.

She said she has been trying to cope with the stress of competing at the Tokyo Olympics.

"I was still struggling with some things," Biles said of competing Tuesday night.

Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2021/07/27/simone-biles-pulls-out-tokyo-olympics-gymnastics-team-final/5383286001/

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Going to make it tough for the US Women to win Gold.

[madaboutharry]

1. The results are in.

No spoilers, you can check how it turned out.

[aggiesal]

5. I'm all about no spoilers alert ...

I record every sporting event I want to see and watch it at my earliest available time.

This was more of a new flash and I don't know how it ended, that why I wrote,
"Going to make it tough for the US Women to win Gold."

So, please no "SPOILER ALERTS"

[madaboutharry]

12. Not everyone feels the same.

[aggiesal]

16. I know, I've had a long discussion with my brothers and sisters ...

over this issue.

They like to watch live and comment on the action as it happens in a group text.
I insisted that they create a different group without me and comment as much as you want.

I don't have time to sit and watch sporting events for 3 hours during the middle of the day,
so I watch them later in the day and skip over the commercials, so that a 3 hour game only
lasts about 2 hours to watch full.

[Coventina]

2. I feel so badly for her, I want to give her a hug.

[Scrivener7]

3. This is tragic. That poor child.

[NQAS]

31. She's not a child. And it's not tragic.

She's 24 years old. And it's not really tragic.

Tragic would be if she broke her back, or died.

It's a sport, and she's the best at it and will go down in the history books. She's well beyond amazing, and it's unlikely that anyone will be along soon to surpass her records. And her pulling out is disappointing to herself and her fans. But it's not tragic.

Sorry to be a curmudgeon, but let's keep things in perspective, and let's not diminish her by calling her a child.

[Scrivener7]

32. Buzz off.

[AZ8theist]

36. I have 2 grown adult children...

They will always be "children" to me. My wife still calls them "kids".

Simone is STILL someone's child. The pressure on her must have been enormous, no matter what her age.

Your "buzz off" response was perfectly appropriate.

[Scrivener7]

39. I can't imagine that kind of pressure. And yes, at my age, 24 is certainly a child and I

feel for her. As redstatebluegirl said, I just want to give her a hug.

[spike jones]

37. NQAS, Exactly right. n/t

[LanternWaste]

45. It's fun to use "let's keep things in perspective" as a pretense for

interpreting the subjective as an absolute value.

[speaktruthtopower]

48. Tragic for her...

There's an awful lot of pressure on athletes that have a showcase only every four (in this case five) years. Especially when they have the added weight of being a symbol of progress.

[Jilly_in_VA]

4. There has been so much pressure on her

but I think she puts the most pressure on herself. She is such a perfectionist. The combination has made it impossible for her, I think. But I also suspect she may have hurt her back on that vault. It just didn't look right to me, and I've seen her vault hundreds of times, never that awkwardly.

[GopherGal]

18. Apparently in the post-event presser she denied any physical injury

but said that given her mental state, she feared injuring herself if she continued to compete.

I think a lot of her drive has to come from within herself, but it probably didn't help matters any that she's smart enough to perceive that as a Black woman the criticism she risks facing for failure is that much harsher.

[redstatebluegirl]

6. I just want to give her a hug.

[marble falls]

7. I think she a strong person and she'll be fine. Now if the press would quit it's diagnosing ...

... and mischaractorizations. They are trying to create news.

[jalan48]

8. Lots of pressure on this young woman. She's a great athlete, win or lose.

[SoCalDavidS]

9. Has Faux News Or TFG Attacked Or Criticized Her Yet? nt

[Javaman]

10. I feel so bad for her. The pressures she, and the rest of the team experience, are enormous.

I truly wish her well.

she did the right thing for her health.

many athletes try to "tough it out" but that usually doesn't end well.

[djacq]

11. Simone deserves 110% U.S. support.

[Warpy]

13. Sometimes you need to let go and lgive others a chance to shine.

Simone Biles has made her mark and women's gymnastics will never be lily white again. Nobody can ever take that away from her.

She had to give up a lot in her life in order to be able to do that. I hope she can heal and have the great life she deserves.

[Sucha NastyWoman]

21. Betty Okino, Dominique Dawes

I’m sure ther are more I’m not thinking of right now.

[bdamomma]

34. Gabby Douglas too

She was doing a commercial the other night and I said Wow, all grown up now. I give them so much credit for what they train to do.

I couldn't do what they do.

[Auggie]

14. I thought she looked a bit anxious two days ago ... not her usual confidence.

Damn. We all wish Ms. Biles nothing but the best.

[Orrex]

15. She's already a hero several times over

If she spent the rest of her life watching reality tv and eating potato chips, she’d still have achieved more than most could ever dream.

Rest well, Ms. Biles. You’ve more than earned it.

[iluvtennis]

17. Ditto. n/t

[Botany]

29. She lives part time around Columbus, OH and i saw her once. Tiny little thing.

I hope the press leaves her alone and she can find some peace.

[elleng]

19. ;-(

[Rebl2]

20. Winning gold

Not the most important thing. Her mental health is and dealing with the pressures put upon her.

[chowder66]

22. Smart young lady. She knows if she makes a mistake it could be devastating to her body.

She knew she wasn't mentally clear on that.

Good call!

[Greybnk48]

23. Now that she went public about sexual abuse by her coach,

along with scores of others, I think PTSD is plaguing her. I hope she has everyone's full, solid support after what she's been through. I have no doubt she'll get her confidence back with time.

[TheRickles]

40. Agree 100% - it's a piece that many people seem to forget.

[stillcool]

24. good for her, for recognizing the pressure

she was under. Lots of self-awareness, and inner strength to be able to let go . Would be much easier to crash and burn.

[twodogsbarking]

25. Being famous ain't easy.

I'm afraid the strain was more than she could bear.

[groundloop]

26. Sad news, but I can't fault her for doing what she feels is necessary.

And from a selfish standpoint I was looking forward to watching her compete, I really enjoy the energy and enthusiasm that she shows with everything she does.

[GumboYaYa]

27. If she is not focused and in the moment it is dangerous to try the things

she does in gymnastics.

We had a really good gymnastics team at my high school. One of the coaches was an assistant on the US Olympic team. I remember being in the gym and seeing (and hearing) some horrendous injuries from the gymnasts who were practicing. The best make it look easy, but it is an incredibly dangerous sport.

[joetheman]

28. I am glad she stopped so that she didn't hurt herself. She is still the greatest! nt

[roamer65]

30. Her mental and physical well being are light years more important than a chunk of metal.

I hope she get the help she needs.

[bdamomma]

33. I noticed that

something was "off" with her the other night, but these things happen. She has done an exceptional job representing the US. Now I'm sure there is another "Biles" waiting in the wings.

She will be missed, and will never be forgotten.

[llashram]

35. may she find

the personal peace she needs. I think I can say most of us adults face stress, Simone's is magnified.
She is always a winner in my book. Strong woman.

[msongs]

38. perhaps an alternative performer should be allowed to take her place nt

[Withywindle]

41. That is NOT a decision anyone makes lightly.

It must have been so hard, but she knows herself best, and the pressure she's under could destroy anyone.

Nothing but respect and support from me. Everyone's allowed to have limits, even (especially) a GOAT.

[jmbar2]

42. I saw a clip of her a couple of nights ago while passing a TV in a restaurant

She had very dark circles under her eyes. I felt at the time she must be exhausted or distressed in some way. Young folks her age don't normally show the effects of stress like that. I'm glad that she is taking care of herself.

She is an inspiration for all, both in performance, and in knowing when to give herself a rest.

[AngryOldDem]

43. You know, I think it's time to remember they are human beings.

Biles saying she feels she has the weight of the world on her shoulders — at 24. Naomi Osaka nearly having a breakdown. It’s sad. Nobody should have to deal with such pressure, especially over a sport.

Mental health is more important than a medal. I’m glad to see her putting her own best interests first.

[Sucha NastyWoman]

44. It says a lot about their character

If they have the courage to talk about this instead of just trying to hide it

[Skittles]

46. she sounds like someone badly in need of a break

I hope she gets one; her mental health is more important than a medal.

[WhoWoodaKnew]

47. As a former college athlete at a big school my take on this is totally different than most people.

Team is everything at both levels.


And I'll tell you exactly what's gonna happen both short term and over the long haul. She'll get a lot of support in the short term. Then, as every year passes (if they don't win Gold), many of her teammates are gonna look back on this and be pissed.

It's not about me though. It will eventually be her teammates. And most will not say so in public. That's the way it works.

[RobinA]

49. I've Thought About

this for the last 24 hours. At first I thought it certainly was a blow to the team and they must be really pissed. But I'm coming around to thinking they may end up seeing it as a good thing. Before it was Simone Biles and the rest of the team. Maybe they win a team gold, but it's Biles' gold with everyone else along for the ride. Not saying that is true, but it's the perception. Now they won silver without Biles that is all theirs. No coattails, a silver fair and square. Me, I think I'd rather have that silver than a gold with a big shadow.

[WhoWoodaKnew]

50. I want to win. I don't care about being a bigger fish

in a smaller pond that finishes second.

[TexasBushwhacker]

51. Had she continued, it may have cost the TEAM

the silver medal they ended up getting. She had already had a low scoring vault. She didn't want to take the chance of hurting the TEAM with another low score.