Officials confirmed on Monday that Simone Biles will compete in the balance beam final on Tuesday, the penultimate women’s event on the Tokyo Olympics gymnastics schedule.
“We are ecstatic to announce that two American athletes will compete in the balance beam final tomorrow — Suni Lee and Simone Biles!! I can’t wait to see both of you!” In a statement, USA Gymnastics said.
Following her withdrawal from last Tuesday’s women’s team final after her first vault, claiming mental health difficulties, it will be the first time the American will compete in Tokyo.
According to a NAN report, the 24-year-old American, who won four gold medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics, was eliminated from the finals of the all-around floor exercise, vault, and asymmetric bars.
On the balance beam, Biles is the defending world champion, and she was chosen to represent the United States.
Biles has suffered a crisis of confidence in Tokyo as she dealt with the “twisties” — where gymnasts are disoriented during their gravity-defying sequences.
“Its honestly petrifying trying to do a skill but not having your mind and body in sync,” Biles explained in an Instagram story, in which she answered fan questions and shared practice videos.
While a number of difficult acrobatic skills have to be performed on the beam, fast-paced tumbling and aerial twisting manoeuvres are limited on the apparatus, hence providing Biles with the opportunity to add to the team silver medal she picked up last week.
While the balance beam requires a lot of tough acrobatic talents, the equipment limits fast-paced tumbling and aerial twisting moves, giving Biles the opportunity to add to her team silver medal from last week.
Despite the fact that she is not competing, Biles has been a regular presence at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre over the past week to support her American teammate.
Biles congratulated Sunisa Lee, who took her place as Olympic all-around champion, and Mykayla Skinner, who won silver in the women’s vault final on Sunday.