Biles’ Olympic run in doubt after second pull-out, Hashimoto wins all-around gold
US superstar Simone Biles pulled out of a second Tokyo Olympics gymnastics competition to protect her mental health on Wednesday, raising serious doubt over her participation in the rest of the Games.
A day ater her shock exit from the team event, USA Gymnastics said the 24-year-old had also withdrawn from the individual all-around competition at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre.
The American arrived in Japan as one of the headline acts of the pandemic-postponed 2020 Games, shouldering an immense weight of expectation as she pursued a record-equalling nine career Olympic titles.
But she withdrew from the team competition ater a shaky opening vault, and her struggles mean she may be unable to add to the four gold medals she won at the 2016 Rio Games.
“Ater further medical evaluation, Simone Biles has withdrawn from the final individual all-around competition at the Tokyo Olympic Games, in order to focus on her mental health,” USA Gymnastics said in a statement.
The US federation said a decision on whether Biles, who will be replaced by Jade Carey, would compete in individual event finals would be taken following daily evaluation.
“We wholeheartedly support Simone’s decision and applaud her bravery in prioritising her wellbeing,” the statement said. “Her courage shows, yet again, why she is a role model for so many.”
Ater pulling out of the team event on Tuesday, in which she won a silver as a result of starting the final, Biles said she had to “do what’s right for me and focus on my mental health”.
“I just don’t trust myself as much as I used to, and I don’t know if it’s age,” she said. “I’m a litle bit more nervous when I do gymnastics.”
Support for the gymnast poured in from around the world following her withdrawal from the team final.
Michelle Obama tweeted: “Am I good enough? Yes, I am. The mantra I practice daily. @Simone_biles, we are proud of you and we are rooting for you. Congratulations on the silver medal, Team @USA!”
Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao tweeted: “Once a champion, always a champion. God Bless @Simone_biles.”
Home fans are still coming to terms with Tuesday’s defeat for Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka, who was playing her first event since withdrawing from the French Open citing mental health issues.
Meanwhile,japaneseteenagerdaikihashimoto won the coveted men’s all-around gymnastics title with a superb final horizontal bars routine at the Tokyo Olympics on Wednesday.
The 19-year-old edged out China’s Xiao Ruoteng with Russian world champion Nikita Nagornyy taking bronze. Hashimoto succeeds compatriot Kohei Uchimura, the 2012 and 2016 all-around champion who chose not to go for a hat-trick ater persistent shoulder injuries.
“The gold medal means a lot to me. All the hard work over the past five years have led to this medal,” he said.
“First and foremost, I want to give it to my parents. I want to get it around their necks and thank them for supporting me.”
Ater Japan took silver behind Nagornyy’s Russians in the team event on Monday, Hashimoto was determined to go one beter at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre.
Placed third going into the final rotation, the horizontal bar, he seized his moment, puting in a near-flawless routine. Waiting for his score wearing a broad smile and the Japanese flag over his shoulders, Hashimoto rightly sensed he’d done enough.
His 14.933 points lited him to a total of 88.465, 0.4 clear of Xiao on 88.065.
“King” Kohei, as 32-year-old Uchimura is known, may have danced for the last time on the Olympic stage but in Hashimoto he looks to have a worthy successor -- perhaps a case of the king is dead, long live the king.
Hashimoto had defined his career objectives before the postponed Games begun as capturing all-around gold at the 2020, 2024 and 2028 Olympics.