After removing herself from the women’s team finals and the individual all-around competition, Simone Biles — America’s most accomplished gymnast — announced …
After removing herself from the women’s team finals and the individual all-around competition, Simone Biles — America’s most accomplished gymnast — announced late Friday she would not compete in the uneven bars or vault at the Tokyo games. In her stead stands 24-year-old MyKayla Skinner, who will compete in the vault finals so her friend can focus on her mental health. Skinner had all but packed her bags before Biles decided to step back from another portion of the Olympics. But on Friday, USA Gymnastics announced that Skinner, who ranked fourth for the vault during qualifications, would compete alongside Jade Carey in the event Sunday. “Looks like I get to put a competition Leo on just one more time. Can’t wait to compete in vault finals,” Skinner announced on social media. “Doing this for us @Simone_Biles…. It’s go time baby!” Five days earlier, Skinner lamented in an Instagram post that her time as an elite-level gymnast was coming to a close.
