• Simone Biles has withdrawn from Monday's Olympic floor final, USA Gymnastics confirmed, leaving the American with just one more shot at individual gold at the Tokyo Games.
    Simone Biles has withdrawn from Monday's Olympic floor final, USA Gymnastics confirmed, leaving the American with just one more shot at individual gold at the Tokyo Games.
  • USA's Simone Biles gestures during the artistic gymnastics women's team final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre in Tokyo on July 27, 2021. Biles withdrew from another Olympic final on Sunday.
    USA's Simone Biles gestures during the artistic gymnastics women's team final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre in Tokyo on July 27, 2021. Biles withdrew from another Olympic final on Sunday.
  • In this file photo taken on July 25, 2021 USA's Simone Biles competes in the floor event of the artistic gymnastic women's qualification during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
    In this file photo taken on July 25, 2021 USA's Simone Biles competes in the floor event of the artistic gymnastic women's qualification during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
  • Simone Biles withdrew from another Olympic final on Sunday.
    Simone Biles withdrew from another Olympic final on Sunday.
  • USA's Simone Biles waves after the artistic gymnastics women's all-around final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre in Tokyo.
    USA's Simone Biles waves after the artistic gymnastics women's all-around final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre in Tokyo.
  • Simone Biles of the United States watches from the stands.
    Simone Biles of the United States watches from the stands.
  • USA's Simone Biles applauds as she attends the artistic gymnastics women's all-around final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
    USA's Simone Biles applauds as she attends the artistic gymnastics women's all-around final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
  • From left: Riley McCusker, Jordan Chiles, Simone Biles, and Mykayla Skinner of Team United States, cheer after Sunisa Lee (not pictured) as she won the gold medal in the Women's All-Around Final on day six of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
    From left: Riley McCusker, Jordan Chiles, Simone Biles, and Mykayla Skinner of Team United States, cheer after Sunisa Lee (not pictured) as she won the gold medal in the Women's All-Around Final on day six of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
  • Simone Biles, of the United States, watches the performance of teammate Jade Carey on the uneven bars during the artistic gymnastics women's all-around final.
    Simone Biles, of the United States, watches the performance of teammate Jade Carey on the uneven bars during the artistic gymnastics women's all-around final.
  • Jordan Chiles, Simone Biles, and Mykayla Skinner of Team United States, look on during the Women's All-Around Final.
    Jordan Chiles, Simone Biles, and Mykayla Skinner of Team United States, look on during the Women's All-Around Final.
  • Simone Biles of the United States wearing a protective face mask.
    Simone Biles of the United States wearing a protective face mask.
  • Simone Biles and MyKayla Skinner of Team United States watch the Men's All-Around Final on day five of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
    Simone Biles and MyKayla Skinner of Team United States watch the Men's All-Around Final on day five of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Olympics

Simone Biles' return set to bring Olympic gymnastics to dramatic end

American, 24, takes part in beam final as she aims to end tumultuous Tokyo experience on a high

Steve Luckings
Steve Luckings

August 03, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Simone Biles' return to action is bound to ensure a dramatic conclusion to the Tokyo Olympics gymnastic competition on Tuesday as the American bids to end her Games with gold in the balance beam final.

American Biles arrived in Tokyo ahead of the Games with designs on a record haul of six gold medals that would have made her the greatest ever Olympian but her Tokyo experience turned tumultuous from the get go.

After dropping out of last week's team event after one vault, the 24-year-old pulled out of the all-around final and three of the four apparatus finals - the floor, vault and uneven bars.

The four-time Olympic champion cited mental health issues for her abrupt withdrawal from the team event - in which the USA picked up a silver medal - and and that she was dealing with the "twisties" - where gymnasts are disoriented during their gravity-defying sequences.

While Biles is the reigning three-time world champion on the beam and 2016 Rio bronze medallists it is not considered her best apparatus.

But it does represent the least risk when it comes to skills that might be impacted by "the twisties".

A number of difficult acrobatic skills have to be performed on the beam but fast-paced tumbling and aerial twisting manoeuvres are limited on the apparatus.

If Biles were on top of her game she would be the clear favourite, but questions about her fitness and state-of-mind hang in the air leaving the competition wide open.

  • US coach Laurent Landi comforts Simone Biles after she exited the team final at the Tokyo Games on Tuesday, July 27, 2021.
    US coach Laurent Landi comforts Simone Biles after she exited the team final at the Tokyo Games on Tuesday, July 27, 2021.
  • Jordan Chiles, Sunisa Lee, and Simone Biles of Team United States cheer as they head to floor exercise during the women's team final.
    Jordan Chiles, Sunisa Lee, and Simone Biles of Team United States cheer as they head to floor exercise during the women's team final.
  • Simone Biles of Team United States is embraced by coach Cecile Landi.
    Simone Biles of Team United States is embraced by coach Cecile Landi.
  • USA's Simone Biles is seen prior to the vault event of the artistic gymnastics women's team final.
    USA's Simone Biles is seen prior to the vault event of the artistic gymnastics women's team final.
  • USA's Simone Biles talks to teammates during the artistic gymnastics women's team final.
    USA's Simone Biles talks to teammates during the artistic gymnastics women's team final.
  • USA's Simone Biles and teammates react during the vault event of the artistic gymnastics women's team final.
    USA's Simone Biles and teammates react during the vault event of the artistic gymnastics women's team final.
  • Simone Biles of Team United States stumbles upon landing after competing in vault during the women's team final.
    Simone Biles of Team United States stumbles upon landing after competing in vault during the women's team final.
  • USA's Simone Biles speaks with her teammates during the artistic gymnastics women's team final.
    USA's Simone Biles speaks with her teammates during the artistic gymnastics women's team final.
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Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

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Updated: August 03, 2021, 6:35 AM