The chances of seeing Simone Biles compete again in the Tokyo Olympics appear to be dwindling after the American withdrew from two more events.
Late Friday, USA Gymnastics issued a statement confirming that Biles would withdraw from the finals for both the vault and uneven bars. She will be replaced by MyKayla Skinner. The statement said that Biles would continue to be evaluated to determine whether she would be able to participate in the floor exercise and balance beam, the other two events for which she is eligible.
After further consultation with medical staff, Simone Biles has decided to withdraw from the event finals for vault and the uneven bars. She will continue to be evaluated daily to determine whether to compete in the finals for floor exercise and balance beam. pic.twitter.com/kWqgZJK4LJ
— USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) July 31, 2021
Biles is currently experiencing what she called the “twisties,” a sort of mental block that causes her to be disoriented in the air. That is a serious issue for a gymnast who relies on extensive body control, grace, and agility to perform.
Biles’ absence from the individual events has allowed other U.S. gymnasts to shine. It remains to be seen whether Biles will be able to participate in the final two events, but the possibility of her participation certainly seems unlikely.
