Reigning Olympic champion Simone Biles left Tuesday’s team final because of a “medical issue,” according to USA Gymnastics.
The 24-year-old U.S. star, considered to be the greatest gymnast of all time, huddled with a trainer after landing her vault. She then exited the competition floor with the team doctor.
Biles returned several minutes later. She took off her bar grips and hugged teammates Grace McCallum, Sunisa Lee and Jordan Chiles before putting on a jacket and sweatpants.
“Simone has withdrawn from the team final competition due to a medical issue,” USA Gymnastics said in a statement. “She will be assessed daily to determine medical clearance for future competitions.”
Without Biles, the Americans lost out on a third straight Olympic title, falling to the Russian Olympic Committee team. The ROC posted a team score of 169.528, ahead of the U.S.’s second-place score of 166.096. The gold is the first for a women’s team from Russia since the United Team triumphed in Barcelona in 1992 and came a day after the men’s team edged Japan for the top spot in the men’s final. Great Britain’s women’s team won the bronze.
The U.S. began finals on vault, with Biles going last. She was supposed to do an Amanar, a vault that begins with a roundoff back handspring onto the table followed by 2½ twists. She seemed to change her mind in midair, doing just 1½ twists instead.
She walked off the podium and was tended to by team doctor Marcia Faustin before making her way out of the arena.
Biles arrived in Tokyo as the unquestioned star of the Games but struggled, at least by her high standards, during qualifying. In a social media post Monday, she admitted that she felt as if the weight of the world was on her shoulders and that the Olympics “were no joke.”
Biles won five medals in Rio de Janeiro five years ago and had a chance to top that total this year after advancing to all five finals. It remains to be seen whether she will be available for the all-around final Thursday night and the event finals later in the Games.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Source:ESPN
