American gymnastics legend Simone Biles announced that her withdrawal from the women's team all-around final at the Tokyo Olympics on Tuesday was due to concerns regarding her "mental health." Biles stated after her team finished second behind the Russian team competing under a neutral flag, "I have to do what is right for me and focus on my mental health, and not jeopardize my health and well-being."
Biles' withdrawal came while she was leading her team's defense of the Olympic gold medal, and she was looking to increase her Olympic medal count this time to six golds, having secured four golds at the previous Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. Biles, considered one of the legends of gymnastics, arrived in the Japanese capital aiming for a record haul of medals, including breaking the record of five golds in a single Olympic Games by a gymnast.
Earlier on Tuesday, the U.S. gymnastics federation stated that Biles' physical condition would be evaluated daily to determine her ability to continue competing, confirming that her withdrawal from the team was due to a health issue.
