What does the future hold for Biles?
TOKYO – The Olympic trajectory that had Simone Biles set for multiple gold medals has gone from all but certain to unclear, at best.
On Wednesday, Biles withdrew from the all-around competition. The defending Olympic gold medalist had qualified first for the final on Thursday, but she pulled out to focus on her mental health.
Biles had already withdrawn from the team final on Tuesday after the United States' first event. Without her on the final three, the American women claimed a silver medal as Russia won gold.
“It's been really stressful this Olympic Games,” said Biles, who came to
Tokyo as arguably the Games' biggest star. “It's been a long week. It's been a long Olympic process. It's been a long year. Just a lot of different variables and I think we're just a little bit too stressed out, but we should be out here having fun and sometimes that's not the case.”
Biles, 24, returned for her second Games after claiming five medals in Rio in 2016. Continuing to train, especially as the pandemic pushed the finish line back a year, has been challenging as Biles said repeatedly she was eager to be done with these Olympics.
She was projected to get five more medals here, all of them possibly gold, but that won't happen. In a statement, USA Gymnastics said Biles would continue to be evaluated to determine whether she will compete in event finals next week.
Whether she will is certain to become the biggest focus of the Games, so here is what we know about what's next.