Tokyo 2020 Olympics – Simone Biles pulls out of gymnastics team final with ‘medical issue’, ROC beat USA to gold

ByBen Snowball

Updated 30/07/2021 at 18:13 GMT

Biles, arguably the biggest name in Tokyo, faces a race against time to be ready for gymnastics’ headline event: the women’s individual all-around final on Thursday. Biles had also qualified for the floor, vault and balance beam finals at the rearranged Olympic Games. You want it? We have it. Stream every Olympic event live on discovery+

Simone Biles pulled out of the women’s team final after her opening routine with a "medical issue" – sparking fears the American great would also miss the individual finals.

The 24-year-old cut a dejected figure after bailing out in mid-air during her first vault and stumbling upon landing. USA then had to settle for silver as ROC took gold and Great Britain secured a surprise bronze.

Biles left the arena after an animated conversation with USA officials as a hush descended on the Ariake Gymnastics Centre.

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She later returned and had a quick chat with her American team-mates, but was immediately removed from the next event, the uneven bars, with Grace McCallum, Jordan Chiles and Sunisa Lee named instead.

It was then confirmed that Biles would not take any further part in the competition. According to NBC, her withdrawal is not related to an injury.

"Simone Biles has withdrawn from the team final competition due to a medical issue," read a statement from USA Gymnastics.

'Not happy!' - Watch dramatic moment Biles tells teammates she's OUT

"She will be assessed daily to determine medical clearance for future competitions."

Biles has just two days to recover for the individual all-around final, where she would start as defending champion and overwhelming favourite for gold.

Her withdrawal comes after a mixed display in qualifying, where she scraped into the final on the balance beam and uneven bars, and overshot a landing in an otherwise impressive floor routine.

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'Oh! Out of character!' - Biles stumbles out of bounds in floor routine

The four-time Olympic champion took to Instagram after qualification, admitting that the pressure of the Olympics was weighing heavily on her.

"It wasn’t an easy day or my best but I got through it," she wrote.

"I truly do feel like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders at times. I know I brush it off and make it seem like pressure doesn’t affect me but damn sometimes it’s hard.

"The Olympics is no joke! But I’m happy my family was able to be with me virtually they mean the world to me."

Biles 'means business' in tough beam routine in Tokyo

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