Olympics Live Updates: Simone Biles Withdraws From All-Around Competition

Simone Biles has withdrawn from the all-around competition at the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. The gold medalist will now compete only on floor exercise and vault.

Simone Biles, the most decorated gymnast in U.S. history, withdrew from all-around competition on Thursday citing an injury.

Tokyo time is 3:21 p.m. on July 28.

Here’s what you should be aware of:

Credit: The New York Times/Doug Mills

According to an emailed statement from U.S.A. Gymnastics, four-time Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles will not participate in Thursday’s all-around competition after withdrawing from the team finals due to a mental health problem.

“Simone will be assessed on a daily basis to decide whether or not to compete in the event finals next week,” the statement added.

Biles, 24, qualified for the finals of all four events next week and was projected to win gold in at least three of them. She was aiming to defend her all-around championship from the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games and become the first woman in 53 years to win back-to-back titles in the event.

Katie Ledecky is a professional athlete who competes in the Olympics swam to a four-second victory in the women’s Olympic 1,500-meter freestyle final. Credit… The New York Times/David Mills

Katie Ledecky was able to win Olympic gold in what is basically her greatest event: the 1,500-meter freestyle, the longest race contested in the pool, in her third Summer Games.

The event has only been open to men in the Olympic Games since 1904. Women who competed in other meets were forced to settle for the 800 meters at the Olympics, which Ledecky will attempt to win for the third time on Saturday.

But on Wednesday morning, she finally had her opportunity in the 1,500 meters and won her first gold medal of the Tokyo Olympics. Ledecky’s record of 15 minutes 37.34 seconds was more than four seconds faster than silver medallist Erica Sullivan of the United States of America of America of America of America of America (15:41.41) and more than five seconds faster than bronze medalist Sarah Kohler of Germany (15:42.91).

On Monday, Ledecky set a new world record and set the fastest qualifying time. Ledecky won the swimming equivalent of a 5-kilometer race — a tough marathon requiring 30 trips up and down the length of the pool — little over an hour after finishing fifth in the 200 freestyle final.

But just by competing in the race, Ledecky — who has won three 1,500-meter world championships and set six world records, more than any other male or female swimmer in the event — was getting an opportunity denied to distance swimmers like Janet Evans, Debbie Meyer, Shane Gould, and Jennifer Turrall.

The longest Olympic event in women’s swimming was just 400 meters until 1968. Meyer won the inaugural women’s 800-meter race, as well as the 200 and 400 freestyle events, at the Mexico City Olympics that year.

Credit: The New York Times/Doug Mills

She was the world record holder in both the 800 and 1,500 meters at the time, and she told The New York Times in 2014 that she didn’t understand why the longer event wasn’t included in the Olympics. Meyer said she was informed there weren’t enough women’s nations participating in the 1,500.

“It was all about the mindset back then,” she said, “which was that women were the weaker sex and that males could endure the distance because they were stronger people.”

Other swimming inconsistencies have been addressed over time. For example, from 1984 to 1996, the men had three relays while the women had two. With a 4×200-meter freestyle relay at the Atlanta Games, the women achieved parity.

Despite attempts in every discipline to make the Olympic experience equitable for men and women, FINA, the worldwide governing body for aquatics, has long refused to let women to participate in the 1,500 meters at the Summer Games.

Julio Maglione, the president of FINA, stated in 2015 that he doubted the 1,500 would be added to the Olympic schedule, which was already jam-packed with events at various lengths for each stroke.

For the first time since 1904, not only have women achieved the 1,500 meter mark, but male distance swimmers now have an 800 meter event on their program. A mixed medley relay has been introduced, with each team consisting of two men and two women.

However, the longest swim in Tokyo will not take place in a pool. In 2008, a 10-kilometer open-water race for men and women was introduced to the Olympics.

On Tuesday, Simone Biles announced her withdrawal from the team competition. She had already failed miserably on her vault. Credit… The New York Times/David Mills

No one could fathom the stress. No one could comprehend the tough choice she had to make. There is only one best gymnast of all time, after all.

Simone Biles’ decision to withdraw from the Olympic gymnastics team event on Tuesday due to a mental health issue drew widespread support from other athletes, lawmakers, celebrities, and others.

Other prominent Black athletes, like Naomi Osaka is a Japanese tennis player., who withdrew from the French Open in May, have made similar choices to put their mental health above competition.

After the team final, Biles said that she had wanted to compete for herself, but that she “felt like I was still doing it for other people.” “So it just breaks my heart,” she said, “because doing what I love has been taken away from me to satisfy other people.”

It’s hard to comprehend the strain Simone Biles, the best gymnast in history, and Naomi Osaka are under, but we’re fortunate to live in a time where young Black trailblazers are openly putting their mental health above all else. That is the essence of power.

July 27, 2021 — Evette Dionne (@freeblackgirl)

Black women are redefining what it means to be a “strong Black woman” on a regular basis. To be powerful, one must flourish rather than suffer. Putting yourself first has a lot of power. Particularly in these systems that aren’t working for us. @naomiosaka & @Simone Biles, thank you.

July 27, 2021 — Dr. Raven the Science Maven (@ravenscimaven)

Some speculated that Biles’ choice indicated a broader change in professional sports culture.

Although it may seem insignificant, Simone and Naomi were both born in 1997, the same year the WNBA was founded, Venus Williams reached her first Grand Slam final, and Serena Williams entered the Top 100. pic.twitter.com/3nRPzufAt5

July 27, 2021 — Franklin Leonard (@franklinleonard)

Franklin Leonard, a film producer, stated, “Watching these Black women athletes utilize and manage authority throughout the past 25 years.” “What a wonderful present it has been.”

Wesley Lowery, a journalist, agreed with Mr. Leonard’s judgment.

This new generation of young athletes establishing new limits around mental health/what they owe the public and the media/their own agency (in part because they have more power, but also because they have more agency) seems paradigm changing.

July 27, 2021 — Wesley (@WesleyLowery)

Some have accused USA Gymnastics of putting too much pressure on Biles.

Although Simone Biles is the greatest gymnast of all time, USAG’s approach of ignoring team makeup and lineups in the hopes of having Simone rescue the day is neither healthy nor sustainable. It’s unfair to put that much pressure on someone, no matter how wonderful she is.

She is deserving of better.

— @ameliamerr_ (@m!a j merr!) 27th of July, 2021

And if anybody could empathize with her, it was her teammates.

Just a nice reminder that Olympic athletes are people, and they are trying their best. It’s very difficult to peak at the appropriate time and go about your daily activity when under duress. It’s very difficult.

July 26, 2021 — Alexandra Raisman (@Aly Raisman)

Thanks to @naomiosakaa1 and @Simone Biles for reminding us of the importance of self-care!! We’re grateful for the opportunity to see how they’ll continue to change the game for future generations in AND outside of respective sports.

July 27, 2021 — Jeremy Lin (@JLin7)

I’m grateful to @Simone Biles for making that call tonight. As a gymnast, I can tell you that you can’t keep going if you don’t trust yourself. It’s not a joke; you may end yourself in severe trouble. It’s not worth taking the chance. There is no medal worth risking your life for. Let’s make prioritizing your mental health a habit.

July 27, 2021 — Mary-Anne Monckton (@Monckton07)

Against Wednesday, the United States took on Iran, ready to move on from their opening defeat to France. Credit… Bryan Snyder took this picture of the pool.

TOKYO, JAPAN — Before baseball and basketball took center stage, Wednesday started with five swimming finals, including a win by Katie Ledecky in the inaugural women’s 1,500-meter freestyle.

The first three-on-three basketball competitions have attracted a large number of converts, and the semifinals and gold medal games are scheduled for tonight.

Following a loss to France in the men’s five-on-five, the United States will seek to vent its anger on an outmatched Iran.

Baseball was reintroduced to the Olympics in part due to Japan’s enthusiasm for the sport. The Japanese squad kicks off the tournament in Fukushima against the Dominican Republic.

On Tuesday, Naomi Osaka of Japan lost her match against Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic is a country in Central Europe. is a country in Central Europe. is a country in Central Europe. is a country in Central Europe.. Credit… The New York Times/David Mills

TOKYO, JAPAN — Naomi Osaka’s reputation was shattered on Tuesday by a reaction after her unexpected loss in Tokyo, only four days after she climbed the steps to ignite the Olympic flame, a ceremony billed as a symbol of a new, more open Japan.

After being expected to win the women’s tennis gold medal on home soil, Osaka’s third-round defeat to Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic shocked many Japanese.

However, as the face of a Summer Games marred by scandal and anxiety over an unrelenting pandemic — Tokyo reported a new record number of new coronavirus cases on Tuesday — Osaka received a thrashing on Japanese social media, with some questioning her identity and right to represent the country at all.

One reader on a Yahoo News article on her death commented, “I still can’t understand why she was the last torchbearer.” “Despite the fact that she claims to be Japanese, she is not fluent in the language.” Several severely negative comments on Osaka, such as this one, received “thumbs up” from 10,000 or more Yahoo users.

Her selection as the opening ceremony’s last torchbearer showed the Olympic organizers’ eagerness to showcase Japan as a varied culture. Rui Hachimura of the Washington Wizards, who is of Japanese and Beninese ancestry, was also a flag-bearer for the Japanese Olympic squad.

However, some individuals in certain parts of society remain xenophobic and refuse to accept those who do not fit a very limited notion of what it means to be Japanese.

On Monday, Canada and Fiji will compete in a rugby qualification match. On Wednesday, Fiji will compete for the gold medal against New Zealand, while Canada will face Australia in the seventh- and eighth-place classification match. Credit… The New York Times/Alexandra Garcia

On Wednesday morning, synchronized diving, gold in three-on-three basketball and rugby, and a lot of soccer were among the highlights of US televised coverage. All timings are in Eastern Standard Time.

DIVING At 2 a.m. on the USA Network, Team USA’s Andrew Capobianco and Michael Hixon will fight for gold in the men’s synchronized 3-meter springboard event.

RUGBY At 4:30 a.m., the USA Network will broadcast the men’s gold and bronze medal bouts.

BASKETBALL THREE-ON-THREE The first three-on-three basketball competitions drew a large number of newcomers. At 4 a.m., the United States will meet France in the women’s semifinals, while the Comite Olympique Russe will face China at 5:10 a.m. Serbia will face Comite Olympique Russe at 4:30 a.m., while Belgium will face Latvia at 5:40 a.m. in the men’s semifinals. On NBCOlympics.com and the USA Network, you can watch the games.

SOCCER In the men’s tournament’s group stage, Germany will play Ivory Coast. On NBCSN, the game begins at 4 a.m. At 7:30 a.m., France will face Japan, which will also be shown on NBCSN. Other matchups on NBCOlympics.com include Germany vs. Ivory Coast and Saudi Arabia vs. Brazil at 4 a.m.; Romania vs. New Zealand and South Korea vs. Honduras at 4:30 a.m.; and Australia vs. Egypt and Spain vs. Argentina at 7 a.m. At 7:15 a.m., Telemundo will broadcast South Africa is a country in Africa. is a country in Africa. vs. Mexico.

CANOE/KAYAK At 6:30 a.m., NBCSN will broadcast heats of the women’s whitewater slalom.

FENCING Men’s team sabre bronze and gold bouts will be broadcast live on NBCOlympics.com at 5:30 a.m. and 6:30 a.m., respectively.

TOKYO, JAPAN — On Tuesday, Simone Biles lost her balance mid-flight while vaulting in the women’s team final, then abruptly left the sport, claiming she wasn’t psychologically prepared to participate. Because of Biles’ absence, the Russians had a better chance of winning gold.

Biles had intended to do an Amanar, a challenging vault with two and a half twists. She claimed, however, that she lost her bearings in the air. She barely managed to complete one and a half twists before stumbling out of her landing.

Emily Rhyne’s photographs are credited; Jon Huang’s composite picture is credited.

U.S.A. Gymnastics announced Biles’ withdrawal from the competition minutes later, leaving the US without its highest-scoring gymnast.

After the competition, Biles said, “I just felt like it would be a little bit better to take a back seat, focus on my mindfulness.” The United States won silver. “I didn’t want to jeopardize the team getting a gold because of my blunders, since they’ve worked far too hard for it.”

Naomi Osaka, the face of the Olympics after igniting the cauldron during the opening ceremony, was knocked out of the women’s singles competition in the third round. Credit… The New York Times/David Mills

There are favorites and underdogs in sports. Of course, the favorites typically win.

However, with over 300 gold medals to be given at these Olympics, the rules of chance dictate that the favorites will sometimes falter. It has occurred in the past. In 1980, the Russian ice hockey team. Aleksandr Karelin, a wrestler, in 2000. In 2008, the American softball team won the World Series.

Some major names have already been added to the list in the first few days of the Tokyo Olympics.

Women’s gymnastics team from the United States

The United States won silver in an event they had long controlled and were expected to win until Simone Biles suddenly withdrew from the team competition Tuesday night. The gold medal went to Russia, while the bronze went to the United Kingdom.

Naomi Osaka

When she ignited the cauldron during the opening ceremony, Osaka became the face of the Games. Her tale would appear to have come to a natural conclusion with a gold medal in tennis. Nonetheless, Osaka was beaten 6-1, 6-4 in the third round by Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic, the world’s 42nd-ranked woman. It just took around one hour.

Barty, Ashleigh

Barty, the world No. 1 tennis player, was knocked out in the first round after losing in straight sets to Sara Sorribes Tormo of Spain, 6-4, 6-3.

Men’s basketball in the United States

Despite a number of hiccups in exhibitions leading up to the Games, the United States men’s basketball team was still a strong favorite. It was defeated by France in its first game.

Women’s soccer in the United States

In a 3-0 loss to Sweden, the World Cup-winning United States women’s soccer team exhibited little of its usual swagger. It also drew 0-0 with Australia, which was good enough for the Americans to progress to the knockout stage. Spain, the pre-tournament favorite, began with a draw against Egypt in the men’s competition.

Softball in the United States

On Tuesday, Japan defeated the United States 2-0 in a rematch of their 2008 Beijing Olympics gold medal match, which Japan won and softball was later eliminated from the Olympics. Japan has already won the tournament for the second time in a row.

synchronized diving squad from China

China seldom loses in diving, and synchronized diving is more rarer. The men’s team, however, was defeated by Britain in the synchronized platform event.

Tennis on the table team from China

Another terrible day for China, as Japan won the mixed doubles gold medal, putting an end to China’s table tennis supremacy.

At the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, China won all four gold medals, and the pair of Xu Xin and Liu Shiwen was a strong favorite this time. They were beaten, however, by Jun Mizutani and Mima Ito.

In the women’s 400-meter freestyle final, Katie Ledecky of the United States and Ariarne Titmus of Australia compete. Credit… The New York Times/David Mills

Katie Ledecky

Granted, it was a foregone conclusion, since her rising competitor, Ariarne Titmus of Australia, had lately recorded faster times in the 400-meter freestyle than she had. However, it was nonetheless shocking to witness Ledecky, one of the most dominating distance swimmers of his age, out-touched at the finish line and demoted to second place.

Is there going to be more?

There’s still a long way to go, and there are many more favorites to discover. The women’s basketball squad of the United States. The three-on-three basketball squad from Serbia. Synchronized swimmers from Russia. The Sinkovic brothers of Croatia, believe it or not, won the pair rowing event.

Here’s a risky prediction: they may not all win.

At Yokohama Baseball Stadium, the Japanese softball team practices. Credit… The New York Times’ James Hill

On Wednesday, Tokyo 2020 organizers announced 16 additional coronavirus illnesses among Olympic staff, increasing the total number of individuals who have tested positive since July 1 to 174.

Athletes have not been infected with any new illnesses. Organizers also deleted two previous instances from their tally, one of which included an athlete, but did not provide any more information.

A total of 20 competitors have tested positive since coming in Tokyo, jeopardizing many of their Olympic dreams, although Covid-19 has mostly been a footnote to the Games thus far.

Outside of the Olympic bubble, where the virus is spreading, this is far from the truth. On Tuesday, Tokyo authorities said that 2,848 individuals had tested positive for the virus, the city’s highest single-day number since the epidemic started. According to government statistics, 14.5 percent of coronavirus tests in the city were positive, indicating that many cases may go unreported.

Since early 2020, Tokyo has been under its fourth state of emergency, with bars and restaurants shutting early and alcohol sales severely limited. However, since the more infectious Delta variety accounts for a greater percentage of new cases, health experts believe that these precautions, which had previously served to contain epidemics, may no longer be as successful.

Athletes who have been found to be infected with the coronavirus

Positive tests are anticipated with daily testing procedures, according to scientists, even among the vaccinated. Although public reports indicate that occurrences among athletes have been minor or asymptomatic, little information on severity has been published. Some athletes who have tested positive have remained anonymous.

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On Tuesday, Youness Baalla, of Morocco, and David Nyika, of New Zealand, fought in a preliminary heavyweight class bout. Credit… Reuters/Ueslei Marcelino

During a heavyweight fight on Tuesday, a Moroccan boxer attempted to bite his opponent’s ear.

While the two were locked together late in their 81- to 91-kilogram preliminary bout on Tuesday, Youness Baalla’s effort to grab on to David Nyika’s ear failed. Nyika, a 25-year-old New Zealander, won the match unanimously and advanced to the men’s quarterfinals.

Nyika said, “He didn’t receive a complete mouthful.” “Fortunately, he was wearing his mouth guard, and I was a little sweaty.” The biting attempt was captured by TV cameras, even though the referee missed it during the match.

Baalla, 22, was rated No. 17 in the men’s heavyweight 91-kilogram class at the 2019 World Championships in Yekaterinburg, Russia, according to his biography on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics website. He was rated No. 2 in the heavyweight category in the African Games in Rabat, Morocco, according to the profile.

Baalla, a Casablanca native, has been selected for the Moroccan national team to compete in the African Olympic qualifying event in Dakar, Senegal, in 2020.

According to the Olympics live-blog that covered the African qualifiers at the time, Baalla stated, “I don’t have the proper words to express truly what I am experiencing.” “I’m going to the Olympics!” exclaims the narrator. You have no idea how hard I worked to prepare for this.”

Officials disqualified Baalla from the Tokyo Games after the contest.

Mike Tyson chewed Evander Holyfield’s ears during a heavyweight title bout in Las Vegas in 1997, and Baalla’s desperate action was evocative of that. In the third round, Tyson was disqualified, and Holyfield required stitches to fix the tip of one of his ears.

Jessica Long warming up during the second day of preliminary swimming at the U.S. Paralympic Team Trials in Minneapolis in June. Credit… via Associated Press/Leila Navidi/Star Tribune

Jessica Long, a paralympic swimmer, recalled feeling invisible during a press conference in Chicago before to the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. She and two other American paralympians stood in a corner, watching reporters question their Olympic rivals but paying little attention to them.

But now, Long said in a recent phone conversation, she feels like she’s finally on an equal footing with the Olympians. The United States Olympic Committee was renamed the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee last week. The national Paralympic Committee has been a part of the national Olympic Committee since 2001, prior to the referendum. The United States is one of four nations that have both the Paralympic and Olympic Committees under the same umbrella.

Long, now 27, a four-time Paralympian whose lower legs were severed as a youngster, stated, “We’ve arrived.” She has a total of 23 medals. “When I was on the Beijing squad, my buddies and I joked, ‘Do you think we’ll ever get there?’ Do you believe the Paralympics will ever be recognized?’ It’s a big, enormous step for it to be in the name.”

When Brad Snyder, one of three athletes on the U.S.O.P.C. board of directors, voted in Chicago, he claimed he had tears in his eyes. Snyder, a paralympic swimmer who is currently training for triathlons, said he was ecstatic to be a part of the occasion.

Snyder, 35, who served in the Navy and lost his vision following an explosion from a roadside bomb in Afghanistan, said, “It wasn’t the paralympians in the room pushing this.” “What made it so strong was that it was everyone else.”

The committee has been embroiled in a number of controversies over the previous two and a half years, including the discovery of years of sexual assault by Lawrence G. Nassar, a doctor who worked for USA Gymnastics and was sentenced to life last year.

Sarah Hirshland, the committee’s chief executive, was hired last summer in an attempt to turn things around. She is recognized as being the catalyst for the merger.

Miraitowa, left, and Someity, the Olympic and Paralympic mascots. Credit… Getty Images/Kazuhiro Nogi/Agence France-Presse

The Olympic and Paralympic mascots were designed by a Japanese designer who prophesied that they would become the “face of the Games” before the epidemic.

That hasn’t exactly been the case. The two mascots are featured prominently in Olympic goods sold around Tokyo as the Games progress. However, in a nation where mascots are heavily used in corporate branding and marketing, they have mostly been absent from the event they were created to symbolize.

According to fans and specialists who research Japan’s mascot business, the Japanese public isn’t particularly enamored with them. The mascots’ social media pages are sparse, and their names — Miraitowa and Someity — are notoriously difficult to recall.

The Olympic mascot is Miraitowa, while the Paralympic mascot is Someity. The Paralympics will be held in Tokyo from August 24 to September 5.

“I believe the mascots were forgotten somewhere along the line in the frenzy of all the Olympic controversy,” Yuki Fuka, 46, said as she strolled around the Olympic Stadium with her daughter over the weekend. “The Games have only just begun, yet their presence has already become a footnote.”

Miraitowa and Someity are fighting in a crowded local field since Japan already has thousands of funny, awkward creatures known as yuru-chara that were made to advertise their hometowns.

Kumamon, a cuddly bear from Kumamoto Prefecture that helped promote the yuru-chara craze around a decade ago, may be Japan’s most well-known mascot. Chiitan, an unofficial “fairy baby” mascot from Susaki who was previously banned from Twitter for his destructive actions, is probably definitely the most naughty.

The Olympic and Paralympic mascots each had around 15,000 Instagram followers as of Tuesday, compared to Chiitan’s almost 900,000. In two years, Miraitowa has only posted 70 times on the site.

Are Miraitowa and Someity reviled, if not outright despised? Not in the least. They’ve simply been a little, well, lackluster.

“In terms of design, they’re not despised. They seem to be in good working order. They seem to be doing a decent job,” said Jillian Rae Suter, an informatics professor at Shizuoka University in Shizuoka, southwest of Tokyo, who has researched Japanese mascots. “However, there doesn’t seem to be much enthusiasm for them.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Simone Biles drop out of Olympics?

Yes, Simone Biles has dropped out of the Olympics due to injury.

Did Simone Biles drop out of individual?

Simone Biles did not drop out of individual.

Will Simone Biles compete in the individual all-around?

I am not sure, but I would say it is unlikely.

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