Simone Biles steps away from Olympic event
Simone Biles withdrew from Monday’s individual event finals in floor, the latest in an Olympics where the overwhelming favorite in gymnastics has been unable to perform. Biles says she is suffering from what gymnasts call “the twisties” — which has left her confused as to where she is while in the air. The condition is dangerous for the athlete.
BIles is continuing to train and seek professional mental health help in the hope she could still compete in Tuesday’s beam final, the last event of a meet she was expected to dominate.
She previously withdrew from the all-around competition, plus event finals in bars and vault. She was the first American woman to qualify in all four disciplines.
She will make a decision on balance beam “later this week,” according to USA Gymnastics.
There will be no American substitute for Biles on floor as no other gymnast qualified high enough to take her spot.
Jade Carey will compete, but she previously qualified third overall and was always scheduled for the event final, which will take place at 4:57 a.m. ET.
Carey was able to step in for the all-around competition and MyKayla Skinner will take Biles’ spot in Sunday’s vault finals because each qualified high enough. That isn’t the case on floor.
If healthy, Biles would have been a favorite to win gold on floor, one of her strongest events. She qualified second with a score of 14.133, behind Italy’s Vanessa Ferrari. The score was low by Biles’ standards and one of the early signs that things were not right for her here at these Olympics. She has routinely defeated Ferrari on the floor through the years.
