Reigning Olympic gymnastics champion Simone Biles is out of the team finals after apparently sustaining an injury during the vault. The 24-year-old U.S. star, considered to be the best 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, hugged teammates Grace McCallum, Sunisa Lee, and Jordan Chiles before putting on a jacket and sweatpants.
The Americans are going to be forced to end the remainder of the competition without her, severely hampering their bid to say a 3rd straight Olympic title. The U.S. began finals on vault, with Biles going last. She was alleged to do an “Amanar,” a vault that begins with a roundoff back handspring onto the table followed by 2 1/2 twists. She appeared to change her mind in mid-air, doing just a 1 1/2 twist instead.
She walked off stage and was attended by team doctor Marcia Faustin before making her answer of the stage. Biles arrived in Tokyo because the unquestioned star of the Games but struggled, a minimum of by her high standards, during qualifying. during a social media post on Monday, she admitted she felt just like the weight of the planet was on her shoulders which the Olympics “were no joke.”
Biles won five medals in Rio de Janeiro five years ago and had an opportunity to truly top that after advancing to all or any five finals. It remains to be seen whether she is going to be available for the all-around final on Thursday night and therefore the event finals later within the Games. After two rotations, we trail ROC 2.5 points.
