Simone Biles Opts Out Of Floor Exercise Final At Olympics
Aug 1, 2021, 10:43 AM
Simone Biles of Team United States watches her team perform on bars after pulling out of the competition after only competing on the vault during the Women's Team Final on day four on day four of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Gymnastics Centre on July 27, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
(Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
TOKYO (AP) — Simone Biles will not defend her Olympic gold medal on floor exercise.
USA Gymnastics says the six-time Olympic medalist has opted not to compete on floor.
She won gold in the event in Rio de Janeiro and placed second in qualifying last week.
Jennifer Gadirova of Britain will replace Biles in Monday’s finals.
Simone has withdrawn from the event final for floor and will make a decision on beam later this week. Either way, we’re all behind you, Simone.
— USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) August 1, 2021
USA Gymnastics says Biles has not decided whether to participate in Tuesday’s balance beam final.
Biles is dealing with a mental block that in gymnastics is referred to as “the twisties.”
She is having trouble figuring out where her body is in relation to the ground when in the air.
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