Simone Biles to return to Olympics competition after pulling out of other events over mental health concerns
Simone Biles, who has pulled out of several events at the Tokyo Olympics citing the need to protect her mental health, will compete in the balance beam final, USA Gymnastics has said.
“We are so excited to confirm that you will see two U.S. athletes in the balance beam final tomorrow – Suni Lee AND Simone Biles!! Can’t wait to watch you both!” USA Gymnastics said in a statement.
The four-time Olympic gold medallist ruled herself out of the vault and uneven bars finals, as well as from the all-round final.
She also removed herself from the team final on 27 July after a shaky performance on vault during the first rotation.
She watched on, cheering, as her three American teammates carried on without her, finishing second behind the Russian Olympic Committee.
Indeed, she has become something of a fixture in the stands supporting Lee, MyKayla Skinner and Jade Carey in their event finals.
Biles, 24, said she was dealing with issues surrounding air awareness, referred to as “the twisties” in gymnastics.
She qualified for all five individual event finals but took herself out of four of them, ending her hopes of finishing the games with a career total of 10 Olympic medals.
The balance beams final is on Tuesday. The gymnast won bronze on beam in Rio de Janeiro five years ago.
Simone Biles (right) celebrating after the USA took silver in the team event
Biles has been praised for her bravery in confronting her challenges with mental health.
Max Whitlock, who has retained his Olympic pommel horse title, has praised “incredible” Biles for prioritising her mental health, describing her as the greatest of all time.
He told Sky Sports News: “She’s incredible and I think what she’s done out here shows a lot of strength.
“That’s probably one of the hardest things for her to do. It’s really difficult.”
Simone Biles won four gold medals and a bronze at Rio 2016. Pic: AP
The four-time gold medal-winner from Rio posted since deleted videos showing her getting lost in the air on two attempts at her uneven bars dismount, a double-twisting, double back, Olympics.com said.
Previously, Biles explained, she had only suffered from twisties on floor and vault. Tokyo is the first time they have affected other events.
She said: “They’re not fun to deal with. It’s honestly petrifying trying to do a skill… not having your mind and body in sync”.
Elon Musk says he has created a new political party – the America Party –
after asking his followers if he should do so in an online poll.
It follows his public falling out with Republican President Donald Trump.
On Friday, the billionaire had asked his followers on X whether a new US political party should be created.
On Saturday evening he wrote on the same platform: “By a factor of 2 to 1, you want a new political party and you shall have it!
“When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste & graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy.
“Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom.”
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Trump threatens to ‘put DOGE’ on Musk
The world’s richest man made the announcement just one day after President Trump signed a tax-cut and spending bill into law on Friday, which Musk had fiercely opposed.
Musk had previously said we would form and fund a new political party to unseat lawmakers who supported the bill.
From bromance to bust-up
The Tesla boss backed Trump’s election campaign with more than a quarter of a billion dollars, later rewarded with a high profile role running the newly created department of government efficiency (DOGE).
But observers of the two men, both with huge wealth and reputations, wondered how long the bromance would last.
Donald Trump gave Musk a warm send-off in the Oval Office in May. Pic: Reuters
In May Musk left the role, still on good terms with Trump but criticising key parts of his legislative agenda.
After that, the attacks ramped up, with Musk slamming the sweeping tax and spending bill as a “disgusting abomination” and Trump hitting back in a barbed tit-for-tat.
Trump earlier this week threatened to cut off the billion-dollar federal subsidies that flow to Musk’s companies, and said he would even consider deporting him.
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