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‘We Are All Supporting Each Other’- Simone Biles Says She Saw a Different Side of Gymnastics at Tokyo Olympics 2020

Published 08/12/2021, 2:13 AM EDT

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via Reuters

The mega-quadrennial games in 2020 have been unpredictable for Simone Biles. To reach and finally compete in the games has been a struggle for athletes, especially mid pandemic.

The withdrawal of Simone Biles at the Tokyo Olympics was a major shock for everyone. Her unexpected withdrawal was a setback for her and her team as well. However, the amount of support and empathy Biles has received is incredible.

While the entire world, her fans, celebrities, USA supported Biles, her teammates were a vast support system for her. When Biles withdrew, they stepped up and won the game, without blaming her for leaving in between because of her mental health.

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Biles teammates supported the star, at her lowest moment

When Simone Biles arrived in Tokyo, she was the favorite to bring home medals. There were predictions about her clean sweeping all the events, as she clinched four medals at the Rio Olympics.

Unfortunately, in the gymnastics team event in Tokyo, Biles had to withdraw during the match. After exiting, she came back and told her teammates about her mental situation. Team USA was nothing but supportive of Biles’s decision to sit out of the match to ensure her safety.

After Tokyo Olympics, Simone revealed to Peacock how she felt to have her teammates supporting her. She said, ” It means the world and it just paints a bigger picture and shines a light on the sport of gymnastics. Because at the end of the day we are all there supporting each other.”

via Reuters

Biles further added, “But to know that they were still supporting me even in my lowest low at the high of my career really meant the world.” The support was both ways, as Biles sat in the stands to cheer her team after the withdrawal.

Simone Biles never expected her teammates to be so supportive throughout Tokyo Olympics

While everyone is a competitor, no one understands an athlete’s pain more than a fellow athlete. Team USA gymnasts supported their teammate Simone Biles throughout the mega-event.

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Albeit, being her rivals in the individual events gymnasts did not make Simone feel alone. Talking about the unexpected support, Biles said, ” They just kept cheering me on even in practice, coming over and asking me how I am, if I needed anything. And, still just supporting me, I never expected that in million years because we are supposed to be rivals.”

via Reuters

She further talked about how she saw a different side of gymnastics at the Tokyo Olympics. Biles said, ” But at the end of the day, we are all striving for the same thing and that’s to get a medal in Olympics. It showed me a different side of gymnastics.”

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It’s incredible to watch athletes stand by each other in each other’s tough times. Michael Phelps and other athletes also supported Simone Biles’s decision to withdraw from the event because of her mental health.

“It Was So Heavy”- Simone Biles Reveals Why She Didn’t Let the American Flag Touch the Ground at Tokyo Olympics 2020

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Written by:

Shreya Verma

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Shreya Verma is an NBA and Tennis Author at EssentiallySports. A graduate of Political Science, Shreya comes from a strong sports background. A professional 10m air pistol shooter, Shreya is also a tennis enthusiast.
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