Tag: gymnasts

  • Olympic gymnast Simone Biles will compete in balance beam finals after withdrawal

    Olympic gymnast Simone Biles will compete in balance beam finals after withdrawal

    Simone Biles will compete in Tuesday’s August 3 women’s balance beam final, USA Gymnastics confirmed on Monday, August 2. The balance beam final is the last medal round for women’s artistic gymnastics at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

    “We are so excited to confirm that you will see two US athletes in the balance beam final tomorrow – Suni Lee AND Simone Biles!!” read a tweet from the US federation. “Can’t wait to watch you both!”

    Biles had qualified to all four of the apparatus finals, scheduled for August 1-3 but eventually withdrew from all but balance beam. Earlier in Tokyo, she withdrew from the team competition after getting lost in midair and from the all-around final entirely to focus on her mental health.

    On her Instagram story Friday, Biles detailed her struggles in training with the “twisties,” a gymnastics term for when a gymnast’s body and mind seemingly stop working together.

    “My mind and body are simply not in sync,” Biles wrote in one of her story slides. “For anyone saying I quit. I didn’t quit.”

    The 24-year-old also posted now deleted videos showing her getting lost in the air on two attempts at her uneven bars dismount, a double-twisting, double back.

    Biles explained she had previously suffered from the phenomenon but only on floor and vault. Tokyo is the first time they have bled into other events.

    “They’re not fun to deal with,” she said. “It’s honestly petrifying trying to do a skill… not having your mind and body in.”

    The world’s most dominant gymnast praised her teammates for winning USA team silver at Tokyo 2020 after admitting that continuing might have cost them a medal. Biles said she was looking forward to a “good mental rest” ahead of deciding whether to take part in further competition at these Games.

  • German gymnasts wear full-body suits at Olympics to promote freedom of choice

    German gymnasts wear full-body suits at Olympics to promote freedom of choice

    The German women’s gymnastics team wore full-body suits in qualifications at the Tokyo Olympics on Sunday instead of their traditional bikini cut version to encourage all women to wear what makes them feel comfortable and to promote freedom of choice, reports Reuters.

    According to the German Gymnastics Federation, this act is against sexualisation in gymnastics. The aim is to present aesthetically- without feeling uncomfortable, they added in a tweet.

    The International Gymnastics Federation said that attire with full or half sleeves and leg coverings are allowed in the competition, as long as the colour matches the leotard (one-piece garment with no legs).

    Sarah Voss, one team member, first wore the suit while competing for the European championships in April.

    “We want to make sure everyone feels comfortable and we show everyone that they can wear whatever they want and look amazing, feel amazing, whether it is in a long leotard or a short one,” she said.

    After this, the entire team decided to participate in the multi-international sports event in red and white unitards and leggings extending to the ankles, in contrast to the costume worn by many other female gymnasts.

    Moreover, their mutual decision earned them praise from fellow competitors in Tokyo.

    Until now women and girls have only covered their legs in international competitions for religious reasons.