Simone Biles confirms she withdrew from all-around final due to mental health

Simone Biles has confirmed that she is not dealing with an injury, but that she withdrew from the gymnastics team all-around final due to mental health reasons.

ESPN’s Michele Steele reported that following her exit from the competition, Biles felt she needed to “take a back seat,” and added: “I didn’t want to risk the team a medal because they worked way too hard for my screw ups.”

“It’s been really stressful this Olympic games… it’s been a long week, a long Olympic process, a long year,” Biles continued.

Biles confirms she is not dealing with an injury. "It's been really stressful this Olympic games...it’s been a long week, a long Olympic process, a long year.

I think we’re a little too stressed out - we should be out here having fun and that’s just not the case."

— Michele Steele (@MicheleSteele) July 27, 2021

“Today has been really stressful,” Biles said.

According to Steele, Team USA had a morning workout, followed by a five-and-a-half-hour wait. Biles explained that she was shaking and has “never felt like this before.”

“Once I came out here, I was like, no the mental is not there. I had to let the girls do it,” Biles said.

Biles also said that “hopefully” she will be able to return for the individual events on Thursday.

“We’ll see,” she said per Steele.

Biles says "hopefully" she can get back out there for the individual events. "We'll see."

— Michele Steele (@MicheleSteele) July 27, 2021

Watch Biles address the media about her decision to withdraw:

Simone Biles speaks after unfortunately withdrawing from the team event:

“No injury, thankfully ... It's been really stressful, this Olympic games ... I think we're just a little bit too stressed out, but we should be out here having fun, and sometimes that’s not the case.” pic.twitter.com/FiQVONkm1O

— The Recount (@therecount) July 27, 2021