Simone Biles shrugs and says 'there's more to life than just gymnastics' after making a shock exit from team final 'to focus on her mental health' - clearing the way for Russia to take gold in a dramatic upset at the Tokyo Olympics

Daily Mail ^ | 7/27/2021 | CHARLIE LANKSTON

[marcusmaximus]

Gymnastics superstar Simone Biles took a cue from tennis pro Naomi Osaka by pulling out of the team final after a shock error on her first event, insisting that she needed to 'focus on her mental health' because 'there is more to life than just' sport.

Speaking about her sensational exit from competition, which cleared the way for Team USA's Russian rivals to claim gold in a dramatic upset, the 24-year-old revealed that it came as a result of her personal mental health struggles and her desire to prioritize her 'wellbeing'.

'To focus on my wellbeing,' she told reporters of her reasons for pulling out of the competition following a sensational flub on the vault, echoing the statement issued by Naomi, 23, when she pulled out of the French Open earlier this year because of her own mental health struggles.

Shrugging, Simone added: 'And you know, there's more to life than just gymnastics.

'It is very unfortunate that it has to happen at this stage because I definitely wanted this Olympics to go a little bit better but again, we'll take it one day at a time and we're going to see how the rest goes.'

The gymnast also insisted that her decision to pull out of the competition after just one event - when she was due to take part in all four - was made, in part, to help her team, saying that she 'didn't want to risk the team medal' with 'her screw up'.

'I thought it was best that these girls took over the job which they absolutely did,' she continued. 'They are Olympic silver medalists now and they should be really proud of themselves now for how well they did last minute.'

[caww]

.......”if she didnt want to go to the Olympics fine, someone else could have taken her spot, but she chose to go there and instead of finishing with the team, bailed on them”......

That’s a quitter not a winner. If she had continued to blunder her performances this would have gone against her otherwise stellar performances and notoriety. So whatever reasons she’s given now cannot overcome “she quit” period. Therefore she will be known for having done so at the highlight of what could have been Gold for the team....she took the easy way out to save herself.

[rainee]

Exactly
I’d be pissed if her teammate!
Spoiled brat who choked = mental health issue
Did she at least get a participation award?

[blueunicorn6]

“I screwed up and now I’m embarrassed.”

[yldstrk]

You can’t be serious

[marcusmaximus]

Simone Biles: ‘Being Head Star Isn’t an Easy Feat’

Reigning Olympic gymnastics champion Simone Biles pulled out of the team finals on Tuesday after struggling to land a vault, telling NBC’s “TODAY” show that while she feels good physically, things “vary” from an emotional standpoint.

“Physically, I feel good,” she told Hoda Kotb in an exclusive interview after her withdrawal. “Emotionally, it varies on the time and moment. Coming to the Olympics and being head star isn’t an easy feat.”

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3979634/posts

[BiglyCommentary]

GRACEFULLY bowing out while on top like Sugar Ray Leonand is TOTALLY DIFFERENT than pulling a NO MAS in the middle of the event because you don’t want to be embarrassed.

[Steely Tom]

I found it surprisingly downbeat for NBC coverage and no one commented on it.

Maybe because no one watched it.

[econjack]

I’d be saying: “Good for her...she went out trying for her team.”

[Steely Tom]

I think steve86 was being ironic, in light of an earlier comment.

[polymuser]

“More to this than her mental health.”

Yes. Who is managing her?

[Carpe Cerevisi]

Whatever happened to Bruce Jenner? Seemed like the type who could run for political office but haven’t heard from him in years.

[dfwgator]

McKayla is not impressed.

[jocon307]

“...but maybe her teammates are a bunch of spoiled rotten woke POSs and she walked?”

Or maybe she’s just a sore loser perfectionist.

If I don’t win, I don’t play. Well, you’ll never win that way.

[dfwgator]

Typical of Biden’s America.

[NorseWood]

Bruce Jenner? Oh, I think he started dating some crazy chick named Caitlyn and got all absorbed in the relationship.

[BiglyCommentary]

“Coming to the Olympics and being head star isn’t an easy feat.”

BOO HOO SOB... If it was easy, EVERYONE WOULD BE A MULTIMILLIONAIRE WORLD FAMOUS ATHLETE. Everyone wants the pony, some just dont want to clean up the manure that’s part of the package.

[hellinahandcart]

You know what, Simone? After the last year and a half, everyone in the entire WORLD
has mental health issues. You’re not special.

[tflabo]

Sure there’s more to life than being an Olympic gymnast but you say that when that short career is over and not during the competition events. Finish what is started is good for mental health and well being.

[Tax-chick]

Elite gymnastics training is ghastly for both the physical and psychological health of the athletes. From the time they show an aptitude at 5 or 6 years old, they rarely have anything like a normal day of life until they quit.

A healthier society wouldn’t celebrate and support this.

[srmanuel]

Just think, she is supposedly the greatest gymnast of all time, doing things no one else does, so advanced the could screw up and still get a winning score....but she wasn’t “mentally” right so she quit on her teammates who are probably not to happy right now...