American gymnast Simone Biles has spoken on her shock withdrawal from the artistic all-round team event at the Tokyo Olympics on Tuesday, when the US went on to finish second behind Russia.
Four-time Olympic champion Biles pulled out after her opening vault at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre, returning with her tracksuit on and playing no further part as the American team saw their decade-long dominance end in her absence.
Initial reports suggested Biles, 24, had injured her right ankle, although there were conflicting claims that she had withdrawn due to “mental health issues”.
An official USA Gymnastics statement described the problem vaguely as a “medical issue.”
After withdrawing, Biles was seen cheering on teammates Sunisa Lee, Grace McCallum and Jordan Chiles enthusiastically from the sidelines.
She also graciously congratulated the Russian team after their victory.
A clip circulating on social media purported to show a conversation between Biles and a US team trainer before she made her decision to withdraw, in which the gymnastics star appeared to say "I can't get up there."
Biles herself has now commented, telling reporters she wanted to "focus on her well-being" and that there was "more to life than just gymnastics."
"I have to focus on my mental health and not jeopardize my health and well-being," she added.
In separate comments to US outlet TODAY, Biles sounded uncertain about her continued participation in Tokyo, where she is due to compete in the all-round final on Thursday.
"Physically, I feel good, I'm in shape," Biles said.
"Emotionally, that kind of varies on the time and moment.
"Coming here to the Olympics and being the head star isn't an easy feat, so we're just trying to take it one day at a time and we'll see."
Biles also told reporters that she did not want to be "dragged out of here on a stretcher."
“Even though it’s so big, it’s the Olympic Games. But at the end of the day it’s like we want to walk out of here, not be dragged out of here on a stretcher," said the star.
“I just don’t trust myself as much as I used to. And I don’t know if it’s age – I’m a little bit more nervous when I do gymnastics.
"I feel like I’m also not having as much fun and I know that.”
Should she compete in the individual all-round final on Thursday, Biles will be aiming to defend the title she won in Rio five years ago.
Biles had entered the Tokyo Olympics as one of the faces of the Games, even being given her own 'GOAT' emoji in recognition as one of the greatest gymnasts of all time.
However, after an uncharacteristically sloppy performance in qualifying, Biles had alluded to the pressure she was under.
"I truly do feel like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders at times," she had written.
"I know I brush it off and make it seem like pressure doesn't affect me but damn sometimes it's hard hahaha! The Olympics is no joke!"
Concerns will now focus on the state of Biles' physical and mental health, and what that means for her participation in the individual events in Tokyo.
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