Many People Show Support For Simone Biles After She Withdraws From Team Final
Jul 27, 2021, 6:07 PM | Updated: 10:12 pm
TOKYO — Support has been pouring in from around the world for Simone Biles after she made the decision to pull out of the Gymnastics Team Final in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Team USA was all but assured to win gold in the team final, but instead, they won the silver. It’s still an amazing accomplishment, considering Biles’ usually high scores were gone.
The U.S. women's gymnastics team earns silver at the #TokyoOlympics. 🥈 pic.twitter.com/2iyll53p0w
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) July 27, 2021
Tuesday night in Tokyo, Simone started the competition with the team, competing in the first rotation on vault. Then, she left the arena.
A statement from Team USA Gymnastics announced her withdrawal from the competition due to a “medical issue.”
Later, Biles told reporters she was physically fine, but mentally was not in a good place.
"Physically, I feel good, I'm in shape. Emotionally, that kind of varies on the time and moment."
Simone Biles talked to @hodakotb after her withdrawal from the team event.#TokyoOlympics #Tokyo2020 #KSLOlympics https://t.co/xG7UpACm4J
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) July 27, 2021
“No injury, thankfully, and that’s why I took a step back because I didn’t want to do something silly out there and get injured,” she said.
Biles did return to the floor to cheer on her teammates in the remaining rotations and earned that second place finish.
Since then, athletes from the around the world, and others, have taken to social media to voice support for what was undoubtedly a difficult decision for her to make.
Teammate and former Utah Red Rock, MyKayla Skinner, tweeted saying, “(Simone) deserves all the support in the world right now. And still our GOAT!!!”
I’m so so proud of our girls for fighting to the very end. Each one of them is gold in my eyes. We are all human… Can’t imagine what Simone is going through. She deserves all the support in the world right now. And still our GOAT!!! 🐐❤️🏆
— MyKayla Skinner (Harmer) (@mykaylaskinner) July 27, 2021
And there seems to be no arguing, Simone Biles is the greatest gymnast the world has ever known.
Before Team USA came to Tokyo, her teammates tried to explain what makes her so amazing as a gymnast and as a teammate.
“Incredible,” said Jade Carey.
“Inspiring,” said Kara Eaker.
“I don’t even know how to explain how she does anything because she just does it so effortlessly,” said Sunisa Lee.
“Her passes on floor, her last pass, it’s supposed to be the easiest pass because you’re the most tired at the end of your routine, so she does a double, double flip with a double twist, and that skill normally is someone’s first pass — their hardest pass — and to watch her do that as her last pass, when she’s the most tired, and to see her do even harder things in the beginning of her routine is just, it’s amazing,” said Eaker.
“It just makes no sense how she does it,” said Lee.
No words can describe the greatness, the perfection of Simone Biles.
“Simone is just a really fun and outgoing person,” said Grace McCallum.
“She’s a really good teammate,” said Carey.
“She is a really good team leader and she really lifts everybody up,” said McCallum.
“And she’s just a lot of fun in the gym,” said Carey.
“It’s just amazing how much she’s accomplished,” said McCallum.
“I just watch her and I’m like, ‘How do you do that?'” said Lee.