JULY 27, 2021
Simone Biles (USA) competes on the vault during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Summer Games at Ariake Gymnastics Centre on July 27, 2021.
USA Gymnastics spokeswoman Carol Fabrizio confirmed to USA TODAY Sports that Biles would not compete in the remaining events.
“Simone has withdrawn from the team final competition due to a medical issue,” she said. “She will be assessed daily to determine medical clearance for future competitions.”
Biles left the competition floor moments after she struggled to land a vault that is second nature for her. On the team’s first event, she shockingly bailed on an Amanar – one of her more difficult vaults – and just barely landed a one-and-a-half.
A visibly upset Biles talked with one of her personal coaches, Cecile Landi, and the team doctor, Marcia Faustin. Though she put on her grips to prepare for uneven bars next, she left the competition floor.
When she returned, she took off her grips and put on her warm-ups and mask and watched as her teammates continued through the meet.
Her departure means the U.S. women will have to rely on their three remaining gymnasts – Grace McCallum, Jordan Chiles and Sunisa Lee.
In team finals, countries put up three gymnasts and count all three scores but have flexibility of who competes on each apparatus with four women on each team.
