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2020 Tokyo Olympics: Simone Biles Answers ‘Retirement Question’ After Winning Bronze Medal

Viewers of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics had some pretty excited reactions when gymnast Simone Biles announced she would be taking the floor Tuesday morning to compete in the balance beam portion of the Olympics.

During an interview with Today, Biles addressed some of her fans’ most pressing questions. Particularly whether or not this will be one of her final gymnastic performances.

“I definitely am going to take some time and let this Olympics sink in because I don’t think I did that after 2016,” the gymnast said. However, the Olympic athlete added, she is definitely not done with her gymnastics career.

“We have tour after this, Gold Over America,” Biles said of her and her teammate’s upcoming plans. “We’ll be going to 35 cities, so I’m super excited about that. So we’ll just see.”

Making a Major Announcement

Simone Biles announced Monday that she was gearing up to perform in the Tuesday morning balance beam competition. This is the final 2020 Tokyo Gymnastics event.

“I didn’t have to twist or do anything, so it was very much at a less risk, especially if I could do a different beam dismount,” Biles said of her decision to compete on the balance beam.

“I’m just proud I could go out there and compete one more time before the Olympics was over and do a new beam dismount I haven’t done since I was probably 12,” the gymnast added.

It has been a difficult road for the gymnast since she found herself lost in the air during an event in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics competition. The dangerous moment shocked many viewers around the world and left the gymnast in a fragile mental state.

During the event, Biles attempted to do an Amanar. This stunt is one of the most difficult in the sport, but for a talented gymnast like Biles, it is second nature. However, that day, the gymnast fell out of the air one twist short, and barely landed on her feet.

Simone Biles Finds Support in Difficult Decisions

On Tuesday, July 27, Biles withdrew from the team finals, in which gymnasts from every team compete together in the vault, balance beam, uneven bars and the floor exercise events. The next day, the Olympic gymnast decided to withdraw from the individual all-around competition as well.

While many of her fans were heartbroken to see Biles make such a controversial call, most were supportive.

“It wasn’t an easy decision,” Biles said of her choice to make her mental health a priority and back out of the events.

“I’ve worked five years for that,” the gymnast continued, adding that while she was heartbroken that she was missing the events, she knew her teammates could take the team where they needed to go.

“I knew that they would get the job done,” said Biles. “That’s exactly what they did.”

When it was announced on Monday that she would be performing in the balance beam competition, many of Biles’s supporters rejoiced. The gymnast received a bronze medal for her performance.

“It means more than all of the golds because I’ve pushed through so much the last five years and the last week while I’ve even been here,” Biles said of the medal. “It was very emotional, and I’m just proud of myself and just all of these girls, as well.”