This week, gymnast Simone Byers made the global headlines, which may be something she never expected at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics. Or maybe she did.
As the US women’s gymnastics team began participating in the team finals in Tokyo on Wednesday, Byers informed officials that she would no longer compete for the gold medal. Although the remaining three players continued to win silver medals, it was the absence of Byers, not her team that continued to win silver medals.
The Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) team won the gold medal, leading the Americans by nearly three and a half. The Russians claim that whether the Americans let Byers lead their team or not, they can win.
Byers, 24, said that she abruptly withdrew from the final to protect her mental health, while riding on a momentum to Tokyo, declaring that she was “the greatest ever” or goat.
In the team trials held in Fort Worth, Texas last month, Byers wore a catsuit with a “goat” outlined with sequins. “Goat” is between her right shoulder and back.
Just before the opening of the Tokyo Olympics, Twitter An emoji was introduced to commemorate Byers. It was a goat flying in the sky with a gold medal wrapped around its neck.
Byers touted herself as the goat to enter the Tokyo Olympics, and she said she was ready to play at her best, despite the pressure that everyone targeted her.
However, the pressure began to increase more than five years ago. Byers did not explain the “mental health” issues she faced after her withdrawal from Tokyo, but these signs have been there for many years.
Shortly after the American gymnast’s victory in Rio, it was revealed that former team doctor Larry Nasser sexually assaulted several girls and young women in the event. It is understood that Carlos received rigorous training in the Texas compound. They were the famous coach of Nadia Comaneci and eventually became Americans.
Byers talked about being hungry at the Texas camp, even breaking into the camp cafeteria, sneaking food into her hoodie and taking it back to her room. She doesn’t like to go hungry, just like she had to pour water on the cereal because she couldn’t afford milk at home when she was a child.
Over the years, Byers has detailed these conversations.
When asked 60 minutes In an interview with Nasser in charge of the doctor’s duties for the US team, Byers said that this was something she could not even tell her parents.
“It’s hard for me to even say it out loud. I know how hard it is. It’s like, it crushes me. It crushes my parents. And I don’t want them to feel the same pain as mine. Because of it. It’s a very dark time,” Byers said 60 minutes.
Byers said the US gymnastics team has not done enough to solve the problem of sexual assault and other problems in team events.
“One hundred percent. We bring them medals. We do our part. You can’t be a part of yourself in return? It’s just, like, it’s disgusting,” Byers said.
Byers said that if she had a daughter, she would not let her participate in American gymnastics until many things were resolved.
“I don’t feel comfortable enough because they were not responsible for their actions and what they did. They also did not promise us that it would never happen again,” Byers said.
For the past two years, Byers has been receiving treatment.
“I’m taking anti-anxiety drugs now because I have gone through a lot of ups and downs throughout the year trying to figure out the problem,” Byers said National Broadcasting Corporation The end of 2018. “So I often go for treatment. It’s not easy, but the people around me are the best.”
During a team qualifying match in Tokyo, Byers tripped on a mat and fell on a vaulting horse in an on-court match, resulting in the Americans finishing second in qualifying, behind the Republic of China.
After the game on Wednesday, Byers said she quit to protect herself, her mental health and take care of her teammates.
“Physically, I feel good, my body is good,” Byers said on NBC’s Today show. “Emotionally, this situation will change with time and moment. Coming here Olympic Games Becoming the chief star is not an easy task, so we just try to achieve success day by day, we will wait and see. “
Most people in the United States might say that Byers is the greatest gymnast of all time, at least in the United States. Here are the top female gymnasts in history, from Larisa Latynina to Nadia Comaneci to Biles (in alphabetical order).
Simone Byers
Byers has won 25 World Gymnastics Championships medals, more than any gymnast in history. Among them, 19 are gold medals. At the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, she won four gold medals and one bronze medal. She became so mature in this sport that new moves are named after her. She also performed some routines that only men can complete.
Nadia Comanesi
She was the first woman to score 10 points in the Olympics (Montreal 1976) and scored 7 10 points in the same Olympics. In her career, she won five Olympic gold medals.
Gina Gogan
A total of 20 medals were won between the Olympics, World Championships and European Championships, including 9 gold medals at the World Championships. She is known for trying new, difficult skills and longevity in this sport.
Svetlana Khorkina
The first gymnast to win a triathlon in a world championship, including five gold medals on uneven bars. She has also won 7 Olympic medals and 47 Olympic, World and European Championship medals.
Olga Colbut
Korbut won three medals at the 1972 Munich Olympics and 13 total medals in major events, helping to popularize gymnastics around the world. She has actions named after her, such as “Korbut Flip” and “Korbut Salto”.
Larisa Latinina
She is the first female Olympian to win nine gold medals. She has won a total of 18 Olympic medals in the three Olympics. The total number of Olympic medals remained until the American swimmer Michael Phelps broke it in 2012.
