Simone Biles Withdraws From the Individual All-Around Competition, But That Doesn't Mean This Is the End for Her

Simone Biles Withdraws From the Individual All-Around Competition, But That Doesn’t Mean This Is the End for Her

Simone Biles has withdrawn from another Olympic event. On July 28, Simone Biles made the decision to withdraw from the individual all-around final. 

As a result, her teammate Jade Carey will step in for Simone Biles, while Suni Lee will also compete for her second all-around medal. Carey did not compete for Team USA in the team final.

Simone Biles Withdraws From the Individual All-Around Competition, But That Doesn't Mean This Is the End for Her
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RELATED: Simone Biles Withdraws From Team All-Around Finals Due to ‘Medical Issue’—USA Takes Silver Medal

“After further medical evaluation, Simone Biles has withdrawn from the final individual all-around competition at the Tokyo Olympic Games, in order to focus on her mental health,” USA Gymnastics shared in a statement. “Simone will continue to be evaluated daily to determine whether or not to participate in next week’s individual event finals. We wholeheartedly support Simone’s decision and applaud her bravery in prioritizing her well-being. Her courage shows, yet again, why she is a role model for so many.”

As At the Buzzer reported yesterday, the world was stunned when Biles pulled out of the team final competition after competing only in the vault. Biles was expected to attempt the Amanar on the vault, which is a roundoff onto the springboard, back handspring onto the vaulting platform, and into 2½ twists in a back layout salto off the table.

However, during her performance, Biles seemingly got “the twisties,” which means she got lost in the air and had to bail after only completing one-and-a-half twists. Thankfully, Biles still landed on the mat safely, but it was enough for her and her coaches to make the decision that she should remove herself from the competition and let her teammates fight for the silver medal they ultimately won.

In the end, Simone Biles revealed that mentally, she just wasn’t there. And that instead of just pushing through, and ignoring those signs, possibly leading to significant injury, Biles priorities herself over the Olympics. Something that should be admired.

Today it’s like, you know what, no, I don’t want to do something stupid and get hurt,” she said, according to The New York Times. “And it’s just it’s not worth it, especially when you have three amazing athletes that can step up to the plate and do it, not worth it.”

Simone Biles Withdraws From the Individual All-Around Competition, But That Doesn't Mean This Is the End for Her
Salty View / Shutterstock.com

“At the end of the day, where we’re human too so we have to protect our mind in our body rather than just go out there and do what the world wants us to do. With the year that it’s been. I’m really not surprised how it played out.”

She further commended her teammates for stepping up for Team USA when she couldn’t. “I’m SO proud of these girls right here,” Biles said alongside a photo of her and her teammates holding their silver medals. 

“You girls are incredibly brave & talented! I’ll forever be inspired by your determination to not give up and to fight through adversity! They stepped up when I couldn’t. Thanks for being there for me and having my back! forever love y’all.”

Millions of other people have shown their support for Simone Biles as well. In response to Biles revealing she has some “demons” she’s dealing with, Olympic legend Michael Phelps, who has also been an advocate for mental health, said this of Biles, according to the New York Post.

“I think athletes and Olympic athletes in general, I mean, talking about the weight of gold. We need someone who we can trust,” Phelps said. “Somebody that can let us be ourselves and listen. Allow us to become vulnerable, somebody who’s not going to try and fix us. You know, we carry a lot of things, a lot of weight on our shoulders. And it’s challenging, especially when we have the lights on us and all of these expectations that are being thrown on top of us. So it broke my heart.”

It should also be pointed out, again, that Biles is the only abuse victim of Larry Nassar’s that is still competing in the sport that didn’t do a very good job of protecting her. Biles has openly stated multiple times that the only reason why she didn’t retire following her 2016 Olympic performance is that she wanted to make sure things changed in the sport, and feared that nothing would if she retired.

This Isn’t It, Yet, For Simone Biles

In the end, Biles also made the decision to remove herself from the individual all-around competition that is set to take place on Thursday, July 29. However, Biles still has a chance to compete several more times in the Olympics if she chooses to.

As of July 28, Simone Biles still is scheduled to compete in the apparatus finals, all of which she has qualified for. The vault and uneven bars are scheduled for Sunday, August 1, the women’s floor routine on Monday, August 2, and the balance beam on Tuesday, August 3.

Sara Vallone has been a writer and editor for the last four and a half years. A graduate of Ohio University, she enjoys celebrity news, sports, and articles that enhance people's lives.

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