2021 Olympics: Simone Biles withdraws from individual all-around final

Simone Biles has withdrawn from the individual all-around competition at the Tokyo Olympics in order to focus on her mental health, USA Gymnastics announced Wednesday. Jade Carey will replace the four-time gold medalist in the event.

In a statement, USA Gymnastics said that Biles will continue to be evaluated daily to determine whether or not to participate in next week’s individual event finals. Biles withdrew from the team final on Tuesday, citing her mental health, as the U.S. won silver.

“We wholeheartedly support Simone’s decision and applaud her bravery in prioritizing her well-being,” USA Gymnastics said in a statement. “Her courage shows, yet again, why she is a role model for so many.”

Later Wednesday, Biles posted on social media for the first time since the USA Gymnastics announcement, saying “the outpouring love & support I’ve received has made me realize I’m more than my accomplishments and gymnastics which I never truly believed before.”

Olympic swimming legend Michael Phelps was among the figures who supported Biles’ decision to prioritize her mental health. The women’s gymnastics team starts the individual all-around final Thursday.

Biles, the defending champion in the individual all-around, said she chose to take a back seat after the vault in Tuesday’s team final because she didn’t want to ruin her team’s chance at a medal.

“I just don’t trust myself as much as I used to,” Biles said. “After the performance that I did, I didn’t want to go into the other events so I thought I would take a step back.”

Biles, 24, said she had “never felt like this before.”

“Once I came out here, I was like, no the mental is not there,” she said. “I had to let the girls do it.”

Biles is also the defending champion in the vault and floor exercise.

The individual apparatus competition begins Sunday.

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(Photo: Loic Venance / AFP via Getty Images)