After pulling of out the women’s all-around team final on Tuesday, US gymnast Simone Biles said that she was now unsure about continuing at the Tokyo Olympics. “There is more to life than just gymnastics,” Biles said while addressing the media after she pulled out of the team event.
At the gymnastics team final, Biles dropped out after one bad attempt at the vault saying that she had to focus on her mental health. Biles, who is often regarded as the greatest gymnast of all times, won four gold medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Having qualified for all six women’s finals at the Tokyo Games, Biles was eyeing the record of Soviet great Larisa Latynina. Latynina has nine gymnastics gold medals to her name, which Biles could equal or even surpass at the Tokyo Olympics if she continues.
After her dismal performance on Tuesday, the 24-year-old admitted that the pressure got to her. A day ahead of the event she had said that she sometimes feels like she has the weight of the world on her shoulders.
On the verge of tears after the team event, Biles told media that she does not trust herself anymore. “I do not trust myself anymore. I have to focus on my mental health,” she said.
“It is very unfortunate that it has to happen at this stage because I definitely wanted these Olympics to go a little bit better.
“We have to protect our mind and our body rather than just go out there and do what the world wants us to do.”
The United States still went on to win the silver medal at the all-round team gymnastics event at the Tokyo Olympics. The other members in Team America were – Sunisa Lee, Grace McCallum and Jordan Chiles.
After the competition, Biles put up an Instagram post congratulating her team and saying that she was inspired by her teammates.
“You girls are incredibly brave & talented! I’ll forever be inspired by your determination to not give up and to fight through adversity,” Biles wrote.
