See the Moment Simone Biles Pulled Out of Team Competition at Tokyo Olympics

At the Olympics, Simone Biles had the floor for one rotation during USA Gymnastics' team final before she withdrew. Fans can watch her compete on vault before she decided to step aside.

By Lindsay Weinberg Jul 28, 2021 1:50 AMTags

Simone Biles' fans are finally getting to see her one and only rotation at the gymnastics team final of the Tokyo Olympics.

Biles competed in just one rotation, on vault, before walking off the floor due to a "medical issue," USA Gymnastics announced on Tuesday, July 27. The four-time gold medalist, who has said she feels "the weight of the world" on her shoulders at the Games, officially withdrew from the final, leading to a wave of support from athletes and celebrities alike.

Hours after news broke of her exit, Biles' performance on vault aired on NBC, so fans at home could cheer her on during what became her sole rotation. She qualified for all rounds and was expected to participate in the individual all-around, floor exercise, beam, uneven bars and vault rounds, per NBC News.

The 24-year-old superstar was seen taking a deep breath as she prepared for the vault. She completed a 1.5 twist on a 2.5-twisting Yurchenko and fumbled her landing, earning her a score of 13.766 out of 15.8.

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Simone Biles' 2020 Tokyo Olympics Journey

After she finished, she offered a motivational message for teammates Jordan Chiles, Grace McCallum and Suni Lee. "You're going to be fine without me. Go out there, kick some butt just like you've done in training," she told them. 

Biles then exited the floor with a trainer, and Jordan was subbed in on the uneven bars. Biles returned in her workout attire to cheer for her fellow USA Gymnasts, who earned the silver medal. The Russian Olympic Committee team got the gold.

"I'm OK, just super frustrated how the night played out but super proud of these girls that stepped up and did what they needed to do," she later told Hoda Kotb on TODAY. "And now we're Olympic silver medalists so it's something that we'll cherish forever."

Though she is fine physically, Biles said she struggled mentally. "Emotionally, that kind of varies on the time and moment," she explained. "Coming to the Olympics and being head star isn't an easy feat." 

Jean Catuffe/Getty Images

She said she's "trying to take it one day at a time" when it comes to competing in future events at the Tokyo Olympics, adding, "We'll see."

Biles noted that her teammates were "freaking out" after she left the floor. 

"They were like crying," the GOAT told Kotb, per NBC News. "And I was like, 'You guys need to relax. You're going to be fine without me. Go out there, you kick some butt just like you've done in training and just lay it out on the floor.'"

When she spoke at a news conference on Tuesday, she said she decided to put her team first and walk away to "work on my mindfulness."

"I didn't want to risk the team a medal," Biles shared. "They've worked way too hard for that, so I just decided that those girls need to go in and do the rest of the competition."

Watch her vault performance above, and see some of the most heartwarming photos of the gymnast at the Tokyo Olympics below.

July 27: Starting Off on a Good Note

Simone reacts during the gymnastics women's team final.

Cheering on Their Friends

Simone and teammate Grace Mc Callum react during the gymnastics women's team final.

Biggest Cheerleader

Simone and teammate Grace McCallum react during the gymnastics women's team final.

Two Thumbs Up

Simone appears at the women's gymnastics team final.

Team Clap-tain

Simone, Grace McCallum and Jordan Chiles cheer for teammate Sunisa "Suni" Lee as she competes on uneven bars during the women's gymnastics team final.

Round of Applause

Simone appears with her teammates at the women's gymnastics team final.

Defying Gravity

Simone Biles appears mid-air during her performance at the women's gymnastics team final on July 27.

Simon's Scare

Simone lands her vault in the women's gymnastics team final. The athlete was scheduled to perform 2.5 twists in the air completed just 1.5. 

The "Twisties"

Simone later explains at a press conference that she "got "a little bit lost in the air," and later confirmed she had developed the "twisties," or mid-air disorientation.

July 27: Simone Withdraws From Team Final

Disappointed with her performance, Simone walks off the competition floor after her vault at the women's gymnastics team final on July 27. She later withdraws from the event.

Fab Four

Despite withdrawing from the women's gymnastics team final after one rotation, Simone helped her team win the silver medal. Here she is pictured with teammates Jordan Chiles, Grace McCallum and Sunisa "Suni" Lee.

Dynamic Duo

Simone and Jordan Chiles react after receiving their silver medals.

Bear Hugs

Simone helps congratulate the Russian team on their gold medal victory.

Red, White & Booty Bump

Simone and Jordan Chiles celebrate on the podium of the gymnastics women's team final.

July 28: Simon Withdraws From 2nd Final

Amid ongoing mental health concerns and case of the "twisties," Simone opts out of the women's individual all-around final.

Team Effort

But Simone did join fellow Team USA members Jordan Chiles and MyKayla Skinner and Riley McCusker—who did not qualify for the Tokyo Olympics—to support their teammate Sunia "Suni" Lee" from the stands during the women's gymnastics individual all-around final. 

Hi Simone!

The Olympic gold medalist smiled and waved from the stands at the women's individual all-around final on July 29.  

July 30: 2 More Withdrawals

Simone withdraws from the uneven bars and vault finals. In the latter, she is replaced by MyKayla Skinner, who appeared to end her 2020 Tokyo Olympics journey days earlier when she failed to qualify for individual finals.

Aug. 1: Another Withdrawal

After pulling out of her fifth event, the floor exercise final, Simone was seen cheering on her teammates at the women's gymnastics uneven bars final.

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