USA Gymnast Simone Biles withdrew from the final of the floor exercise event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Team USA announced on Sunday. In this event, Simone had won gold at Rio Olympics and was placed second in the qualifying last week. Jennifer Gadirova of Britain will be replacing Simone in the finals that are set to take place Monday.
In a statemet, USA Gymnastics said: “Simone has withdrawn from the event final for floor and will make a decision on beam later this week.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.”
In Brazil, Simone had settled a bronze in the beam event.
This withdrawal adds to the list of other events in which Simone decided not to particpate. On Saturday, Team USA annouced that she has chosen to opt out of uneven bars and vault finals.
She is currently dealing with a mental block, which is being dubbed as “twisties” by the experts. This came to the fore after Simone got lost in the air and could not ascertain where she was. Basically, she could not figure out where her body is in relation to the ground when in the air.
During her elit career, Simone has been dominant on floor exercise, winning five world championships along with her triumph in Rio. Due to her exploits in the innovative tumbling, she had two tumbling pass dismounts named after her in the sport’s Code of Points.
Last week, the four-time Olympic champion withdrew from the women’s team final and individual all-around final, as well, citing reason that she had to focus on her mental health.
On Friday, Simone took to her Instagram and explained the circumstances that led to her withdrawal.
“For anyone saying I quit. I didn’t quit,” she wrote on an Instagram story slide. “My mind and body are simply not in sync.”
“I don’t think you realise how dangerous this is on a hard/competitive surface. Nor do I have to explain why I put my health first. Physical health is mental health.”
Simone said that she can’t say how long will the twisties affect her.
“Honestly, no telling. Time frame [is] something you have to take literally day-by-day, turn-by-turn.”