U.S. gymnast Simone Biles has withdrawn from two more finals in Tokyo Olympic games on Saturday, leaving it unclear whether she will compete again at the Games
Biles, one of the most decorated American gymnasts shocked fans when she withdrew from the women’s team finals mid-competition Tuesday, leaving her teammates to compete without her and ultimately win silver medals.
Just hours ago, she pulled out of the individual all-around finals, an event that showcases four different skills.
USA Gymnastics said in a statement “Today, after further consultation with medical staff, Simone Biles has decided to withdraw from the event finals for vault and the uneven bars. She will continue to be evaluated daily to determine whether to compete in the finals for floor exercise and balance beam.”
In an Instagram post, Biles explained that she had what is called “the twisties” a phenomenon in which gymnasts start losing control mid-air and struggle to finish complex manoeuvres safely. She said “for anyone saying I quit. I didn’t quit my mind and body are simply not in sync … I don’t think you realize how dangerous this is on hard/competition surface nor do I have to explain why I put health first. Physical health is mental health.”
Biles said that she has had mental blocks in the past on floor and vault, those problems have previously taken two or more weeks to resolve but it is “something you have to take literally day by day, turn by turn. Literally cannot tell up from down. It’s the craziest feeling ever, not having an inch of control over your body. What’s even scarier is since I have no idea where I am in the air, I have no idea how I’m going to land or what I’m going to land on – head/hands/feet back.”
Biles has received an outpouring of support from former First Lady Michelle Obama to International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, praising her courage.