In one of the more surprising moments of the Tokyo Olympics, U.S. gymnastics star Simone Biles withdrew from the women’s gymnastics team final after her first vault.
Initially, the circumstances behind Biles’ decision were unclear, but she would tell reporters in the post-competition mixed zone that her exit from the event was a mental health decision rather than a physical injury.
Biles felt that her headspace at the time would have hurt the team — it also could have put herself in physical harm. The U.S. team of Grace McCallum, Sunisa Lee and Jordan Chiles went on to earn the silver medal following Biles’ decision.
But Biles was absolutely engaged in supporting her teammates. Video shortly after her decision showed the pep talk that Biles gave to Team USA before they went on to win silver.
Simone Biles: "I'm sorry. I love you guys, but you're gonna be just fine."
"You guys have trained your whole entire life for this, it's fine. I've been to an Olympics, I'll be fine. This is your first — you go out there and kick ass, okay?" pic.twitter.com/r2RxWQ2Dsy
— Kendall Baker (@TheKendallBaker) July 27, 2021
Biles said:
“I’m sorry. I love you guys, but you’re gonna be just fine. … You guys have trained your whole entire life for this, it’s fine. I’ve been to an Olympics. I’ll be fine. This is your first — you go out there and kick ass, okay?”
In what must have been an incredibly difficult decision, you have to love the leadership from Biles. It was the encouragement the team needed to refocus and earn the silver medal behind the Russian Olympic Committee.
