Superstar Simone Biles gives up

One rotation around the longitudinal axis of the body when jumping is not enough. Only difficulty level 5,00 instead of 5,80. Underground for someone like Simone Biles, who usually brings the stars out of the sky when she hits the gymnastics equipment. She stomped off the mat with short tapping steps. The previous landing had also failed and she was only able to avoid a fall by taking a big lunge, after what was, for her, an easy jump, which was probably not what she wanted. She wanted more. She wanted everything. She wanted to win six gold medals at these Tokyo Olympics.

Simone Biles was introduced as the ultimate superstar in Japan and is now just a pile of misery. After her mishap, she no longer even felt able to help her colleagues fight for team gold. She went from device to device and had to watch idly as the US team ultimately clearly lost to the representation of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC). The bitterest hour It was the bitterest hour in the life of the artistic gymnast Simone Biles, who had already caused a sensation in advance because she invented a whole bunch of new, almost unimaginably difficult exercises. In particular, the double somersault backwards on the floor with three screws, now called “Biles”, fascinated the gymnastics world. Not even recognized experts thought such a thing was possible. Simone Biles has invented a series of highly complex exercises. © APA/afp / LOIC VENANCE

In qualifying for the team competition, Biles presented it perfectly, but then had to leave the floor after another somersault. She was literally catapulted out and landed two meters from the carpet. Perhaps this mistake, which was punished with a deduction of 0,3 points, was already the first signal of a mental block that became ever greater and even led to the team blacking out when jumping in the final. Simone Biles will also not take part in the all-around competition, in which she was the clear favorite, although she announced that she was not injured. Not externally.

There are no tapes, no bandages to be seen. Biles obviously couldn't withstand the pressure she also put on herself. She suddenly no longer enjoys gymnastics, she said. That doesn't just sound dramatic, it is. Now she wants to decide from day to day what happens next, because the equipment finals are still to come next week. But it's clear that we won't be seeing much of Simone Biles as a gymnast anymore. If any. Perhaps these Olympic Games for Biles once again revealed the events of the past in such a way that the body no longer functioned because the head could no longer and the tormented soul could no longer endure it. Biles was a victim of sexual abuse She was abused a few years ago in the US training center by Larry Nassar, who was sentenced to 2018 to 40 years in prison in 175 for mass sexual abuse of women and girls. Biles was one of his victims. Nassar was the US federation's doctor. Simone Biles went public back then and had the courage to testify against Nassar. She has taken a lot on herself and also ensured that the relationship between the coaches and all those responsible and the gymnasts is now being intensively questioned.

Now even Michelle Obama has given her support, and many other great athletes such as the most successful Olympian of all time, Michael Phelps, have contacted her. A wave of solidarity washes over Biles. And once again it becomes clear how much competitive sports strain and demand the psyche and not just the body. Naomi Osaka couldn't withstand the great pressure in her home country. © APA/afp / TIZIANA FABI

Naomi Osaka, the Japanese tennis player, feels the same way. She lit the fire at the opening ceremony and was expected to be the face of the Games. An entire country looked to them. Gold. Nothing more and nothing less was expected of her. She has now been eliminated in the third round. Almost a month ago she had already explained that she was suffering from depression and that she found it difficult to be in public. Now she was under daily observation and was playing poorly.

Osaka and Biles once again made it very clear to us what thin ice competitive athletes are walking on and how important psychological support is from the start of their careers. It is an inexcusable oversight that there is still a stigma attached to discussing it. There is still a lot of catching up to do. Everywhere.

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Superstar Simone Biles gives up

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Superstar Simone Biles gives up

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