Which Olympics Did Simone Biles Withdraw From
Simone Biles withdrew from key events at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, which were held in 2021 due to the pandemic. She stepped away from competition after the women’s team final and skipped the individual all-around, vault, uneven bars, and balance beam finals to focus on her mental health. This evergreen explainer outlines the specific Olympics, the events affected, and the context of her decision without speculation.
2020 Summer Olympics context and timeline
Original schedule and postponement
The 2020 Summer Olympics were scheduled for 2020 but postponed to 2021 in response to the global pandemic. The Games took place from 23 July to 8 August 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. Simone Biles was selected for the U.S. team and competed in the women’s team final on 27 July 2021.
Withdrawal timeline
- 27 July 2021: Women’s team final; Biles competed.
- 28 July 2021: Biles withdrew from the individual all-around, citing mental health concerns.
- 28–30 July 2021: She withdrew from apparatus event finals (vault, uneven bars, balance beam) and did not return to competition.
Events missed by Simone Biles at Tokyo 2020/2021
Biles did not compete in or medal in the following events at the 2020 Summer Olympics:
| Event | Scheduled date (2021) | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Women’s individual all-around | 29 July 2021 | Did not start |
| Women’s vault final | 1 August 2021 | Did not start |
| Women’s uneven bars final | 3 August 2021 | Did not start |
| Women’s balance beam final | 3 August 2021 | Did not start |
| Women’s floor exercise final | 2 August 2021 | Did not start |
She did compete in the women’s team final (27 July), where the U.S. team finished first, and she recorded scores on vault and floor exercise as part of the team lineup before withdrawing from individual events.
Reason for withdrawal
In public statements and interviews, Biles cited mental health priorities and the need to focus on her well-being. She referred to the ‘twisties’ and the pressures of competition as factors in her decision. U.S. officials and the International Olympic Committee emphasized that her withdrawal was a personal health decision and not a penalty.
Comparison with previous Olympic participation
Unlike her withdrawals in 2020/2021, Biles competed across multiple disciplines at the 2016 Rio Olympics, winning four gold medals and one bronze. Her 2020/2021 choices marked a notable shift toward prioritizing mental health over medal contention, a topic widely discussed in sports psychology and athlete welfare conversations.
Verified facts summary
- Olympics: 2020 Summer Olympics (held in 2021).
- Events missed: All individual apparatus and all-around finals.
- Events completed: Women’s team final.
- Official reasoning: Mental health focus.
- Governing bodies: U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, International Olympic Committee acknowledged and supported her decision.