Update (July 28, 2021): After publicly announcing Tuesday that she will no longer be competing in the team finals, gymnast Simone Biles has also withdrawn from the individual all-around competition at the Olympics.

In a statement on Wednesday, USA Gymnastics announced that the four-time Olympic gold medalist will continue to focus on her mental health, a decision they “wholeheartedly support.”

Biles’ teammate, Jade Carey, who placed ninth in the qualifying round, will replace the 24-year-old in the all-around competition. 

"We could not be prouder of how this team handled things tonight," USA Gymnastics CEO Li Li Leung said after Biles’ withdrawal, the organization reported. "From Simone's bravery and selflessness to the team's ability to adapt quickly and perform so well, these young women inspired us all." 

The group also noted that Biles will undergo daily evaluations to decide if she is able to compete in the individual event finals set for next week. 

Following her withdrawal from the team final, Team USA was awarded a silver medal after the Russian Olympic Committee secured gold. After the medal ceremony, Biles also mentioned to reporters that she was “just not having as much fun” and didn’t want the team to suffer because of her mental health.

"Once I came out here [to compete], I was like, 'No, mental is not there, so I just need to let the girls do it and focus on myself,'" Biles said, ESPN reported.

In 2016, Biles won the all-around competition at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and had plans to become the first woman to win back-to-back Olympic championships in more than 50 years at the Tokyo Games, CBS News reported.

Update (July 27, 2021): Four-time Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles said she needs to focus on her mental health after she withdrew from the U.S. gymnastics team final on Tuesday at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

"Physically, I feel good," Biles said during an interview with Today. 

"I have to focus on my mental health and not jeopardize my health and well-being," she later said. "It just sucks when you're fighting with your own head."

With sights on winning the gold medal, Team USA came up short and was awarded the silver medal after Biles flubbed her vault attempt on Tuesday, as Blavity previously reported.

The gymnast explained that she was not hurt but instead battled with her mental health.  

“At the end of the day, I have to do what’s best for me. It just sucks that it happened at the Olympic Games,” she said, according to The New York Times.

An Olympic official applauded Biles' "decision to prioritize your mental wellness over all else."

The gymnast didn’t stick her landing while she completed during the first leg of the team event where she scored 13.766, her lowest Olympic vault score. She then left the team floor as cameras saw her tell the team doctor Marcia Faustin, “I don’t want to do it. I’m done,” Sports Illustrated reported.

She returned to the competition floor wearing her warmup gear, cheering on other members of the U.S. gymnastics team. While speaking to her teammates Jordan Chiles, Grace McCallum and Suni Lee, she said "you guys need to relax, you'll be fine without me. Go out there, kick some butt just like you've done in training and just lay it out on the floor and see what happens.”

The three gymnasts continued in the competition and claimed silver with 166.096 points, behind Russia who won gold with 169.528 points, Sports Illustrated reported.

Although the competition didn’t go as the gymnast planned, she was happy that her teammates recovered after she withdrew from the final.

"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," Biles said. 

She is scheduled to compete in the individual all-around competition on July 29, however, her presence at the Olympics remains in question following Tuesday’s exit.

"Coming to the Olympics and being head star isn't an easy feat, so we're just trying to take it one day at a time and we’ll see," Biles said.

Original (July 27, 2021): In a shocking turn of events, Olympic favorite Simone Biles withdrew from the gymnastics team final because of a medical issue, Yahoo reports. 

After a low-scoring attempt on the vault, the United States’ quest for gold came up short as they won the silver medal. 

Biles attempted Yurchenko 1.5 and still needed a massive bounce to stick the landing. The 24-four-year-old scored a 13.766 with 15.8 being the maximum score.

She was then expected to compete on the uneven bars, but Jordan Chiles was chosen as her substitution according to NBC News. Reports also stated Biles was dealing with a “mental issue” not a physical one. 

Immediately after her performance, she consulted the team trainer and then left the competition floor accompanied by the team doctor.

When Biles returned to the floor, she was dressed in her warmups and cheered for her teammates who were still competing from the sidelines.

USA Gymnastics announced soon after she was done for the rest of the night on Twitter

"Simone Biles has withdrawn from the team final competition due to a medical issue," the statement read. "She will be assessed daily to determine medical clearance for future competitions."

In an Instagram post on Monday, Biles mentioned having to deal with the pressure of being the face of the sport and having the support of her family. 

"It wasn’t an easy day or my best but I got through it,” her post read. “I truly do feel like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders at times. I know I brush it off and make it seem like pressure doesn’t affect me but damn sometimes it’s hard hahaha! The olympics is no joke! BUT I’m happy my family was able to be with me virtually ???? they mean the world to me!”

Although Biles can still compete in the all-around and individual finals that are scheduled for later this week, as of yet, her status remains unknown.

medical-issueSimone BilesTokyo-Olympics