translated from Spanish: Simone Biles withdraws from singles final to focus on her mental health

American gymnast Simone Biles will not contest thursday’s individual final of the Tokyo Olympics, in which she was going to defend the title, with the aim of “focusing on her mental health”. The U.S. federation, US Gymnastics, announced their withdrawal on the eve of the full contest and a day after Biles withdrew from the team final.” Following a subsequent medical evaluation, Simone is withdrawing from the final of the full Tokyo Games competition to focus on her mental health,” the statement said. She will continue to be evaluated on a daily basis to determine whether or not she participates in next week’s individual competitions,” adds US Gymnnastics, referring to the apparatus finals that will begin on Day 1.Jade Carey will enter her place in the full contest; she achieved in the qualifying round the ninth best grade, but the rule that prevents more than two gymnasts per country from participating in a final left her out.” We wholeheartedly support Simone’s decision and applaud her courage in prioritizing her well-being. His courage teaches us, once again, why he is a reference for so many, “concludes the federal note. Biles, winner of five Olympic medals in Rio 2016, withdrew from Tuesday’s team final after doing only the jumping exercise, in which she scored low. After the competition, in which the United States won the silver medal behind Russia -first defeat of the American team since 2010-, Biles admitted that she felt pressured, recalled that athletes are people whose mental health must be watched over and pointed out that she had not been able to make the jump she had prepared due to her emotional state. The final of the full competition brings together the top 24 gymnasts in the four apparatuses. Biles’ loss leaves Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade, American Sunisa Lee and Russia’s Angelina Melnikova as title favorites. They were, behind the Texan, the best in the previous round. In addition to this one, which he will no longer contest, Biles is qualified for the four jumping and uneven bars finals, on day 1, floor on day 2, and bar on August 3.

Original source in Spanish