Simone Biles pulls out of Olympic all-around title defense

TOKYO, Japan -- Simone Biles abandoned the defense of her individual all-around Olympic crown on Wednesday, a day after her shock withdrawal from the women's team final over mental health concerns. 

As a worldwide outpouring of support for the troubled US gymnastics superstar grew, a statement from USA Gymnastics confirmed that Biles would not take part in Thursday's all-around final.

The 24-year-old 2016 Olympic all-around gold medallist's participation in the four individual event finals starting on Sunday will be decided after further evaluation, USAG said.

"Simone Biles has withdrawn from the final individual all-around competition at the Tokyo Olympic Games in order to focus on her mental health," USAG said in a statement.

"Simone will continue to be evaluated daily to determine whether or not to participate in next week's individual event finals.

"We wholeheartedly support Simone's decision and applaud her bravery in prioritising her well-being. Her courage shows, yet again, why she is a role model for so many."

The decision marks a stunning turn of events for Biles, who had been widely expected to crown the greatest career in gymnastics history with another multiple haul of gold medals in Tokyo.

The diminutive Texan, winner of four gold medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics, was vying for a potential six golds in Japan.

- Game-changing moment -

However her campaign unraveled on Tuesday when she suddenly withdrew from the team final after an uncharacteristically shaky display on the opening vault. Biles later said she had pulled out of the final out of concern for her mental well-being.

"I have to focus on my mental health," Biles said. "I didn't want to go out and do something stupid and get hurt... At the end of the day we don't want to be carried out of there on a stretcher."

Biles' decision has been hailed as a game-changing moment for elite sport, helping to dispel enduring stigmas surrounding mental health.

Biles told US Olympic broadcaster NBC television late Tuesday she would assess her readiness to compete on a "day-by-day" basis.

"Physically, I feel good, I'm in shape," she said on NBC television's Today program. "We're going to take it day by day, and we're just gonna see." 

As Biles reflected on her shattered Olympic dreams, she drew broad support from athletes, officials and public figures.

"Simone, you've made us so proud. Proud of who you are as a person, teammate and athlete," said Sarah Hirshland, US Olympic and Paralympic Committee chief executive officer.

"We applaud your decision to prioritize your mental wellness over all else and offer you the full support and resources of our Team USA community as you navigate the journey ahead."

- Obama support, Phelps concern -

Former US first lady Michelle Obama tweeted: "Am I good enough? Yes, I am. The mantra I practice daily. @Simone_Biles , we are proud of you and we are rooting for you."

Two-time Olympic Alpine ski champion Mikaela Shiffrin offered support as well, tweeting: "@Simone_Biles keep whipping out that smile of yours cause it is undeniably golden. Always."

US swimming and Olympic legend Michael Phelps, who in 2018 revealed his own struggles with depression and suicidal thoughts following the 2012 Olympics, said watching Biles struggle on Tuesday "broke my heart."

Phelps told NBC the Olympics could be overwhelming for athletes, and that he had often struggled to find support during his own career.

"The biggest thing is we all need to ask for help sometimes too when we go through those times," Phelps said. "For me, I can say personally it was something very challenging. It was hard for me to ask for help."

Biles's former USA teammate Aly Raisman spoke of her concerns for her friend's wellbeing.

"I know that all of these athletes dream of this moment for their whole entire lives, and so I'm just completely devastated," Raisman told NBC. 

"I am obviously so worried and just hoping that Simone is OK."

Raisman and Biles were among the gymnasts abused by former US team doctor Larry Nassar, who was jailed in 2018 for sexual abuse.

"It's just so much pressure, and I've been watching how much pressure has been on her in the months leading up to the Games, and it's just devastating. I feel horrible," Raisman added.

Agence France-Presse

Korda sisters expected to lead U.S. women's golf team at Olympics

Sisters Nelly and Jessica Korda are expected to lead the American women's golf contingent at the Olympics in Tokyo.

The International Golf Federation released the list of the 60 players in the Final Olympic Golf Rankings on Tuesday. The list was cemented after the completion of the KPMG Women's PGA Championship, which Nelly Korda won last weekend to move to No. 1 in the world and in the rankings for the Olympics.

Both the United States and South Korea qualified four athletes, while other countries were limited to a maximum of two, based on the world golf rankings.

Also invited to compete for the United States were Danielle Kang and Lexi Thompson. The qualifying South Koreans are Jin Young Ko, Inbee Park, Sei Young Kim and Hyo-Joo Kim.

The 60-player women's tournament is scheduled to be played Aug. 4-7 at Kasumigaseki Country Club in Kawagoe, Saitama, Japan. The course, opened in 1929, has hosted the Japan Open Golf Championship four times.

The national Olympic committees have until Thursday to confirm the participation of each player. Any unused berths will be reallocated.

Park won the gold medal in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. Also qualifying for Tokyo were the other Rio medalists: Lydia Ko of New Zealand (silver) and Shanshan Feng of China (bronze). Thompson competed for Team USA in 2016 -- the first time women's golf had been an Olympic sport since 1900.

Jin Young Ko finished No. 2 in the rankings, followed by Park, Sei Young Kim, Kang, Hyo-Joo Kim, Brooke Henderson of Canada, Yuka Saso of the Philippines, Thompson and Lydia Ko to complete the Top 10.

-reuters

Simone Biles returns to competition with historic vault

LOS ANGELES -- US gymnastics superstar Simone Biles returned to competition with a bang Saturday, completing an historic vault to launch her final run to the Tokyo Olympics.

The five-time Olympic gold medallist, who hadn't competed since winning five golds, including a fifth all-around title, at the 2019 World Championships, delivered on the vault she's been preparing -- a Yurchenko double pike -- at the US Classic in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The vault, featuring a roundoff onto the springboard and back handspring into a piked double backflip, had never before been done in women's competition.

Biles sailed through it with so much power that she over-rotated slightly and stepped back on the landing.

"I was just thinking, do it like training," she said of her mindset as she took off down the runway.

"Don't try to overdo anything, because I have a tendency as soon as I raise my hand to kind of overpower things. I did a little bit, but at least I still was on my feet and it's a new vault."

Posts of Biles completing the vault in practice had set social media sites buzzing. NBA superstar LeBron James had retweeted a video of Biles landing it.

"It's nice to see all the support," Biles said, adding that she was "feeling confident" heading into the US championships June 3-6.

They'll be followed by the US Olympic Trials June 24-27, where the top two finishers will book Tokyo berths, along with two other gymnasts named by USA Gymnastics selectors.

Biles wasn't perfect on Saturday. In addition to her step back on the vault landing she had a bobble on her floor routine and on the asymmetrical bars.

But she won the all-around competition with a score of 58.400, with Jordan Chiles second on 57.100 points and Kayla DiCello third on 56.100.

"I'm just happy to be back out here on the competition floor in an arena with all of the girls, especially after the long year and time off we've had," Biles said.

Agence France-Presse

BlackBerry Games!

London 2012: Now you can enjoy more of the ongoing Olympic Games with new BlackBerry Apps. In a bid to join the celebration, and allow its loyal users to fully enjoy what’s happening in the London Games, BlackBerry released a pocket guide to the Games! In the summer of 2012, London and the UK will come alive with events, celebrations and activities during the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

First up is the Official London 2012 Join In app is a mobile guide to help you plan, enjoy and share your Games experience.

This app is free and can be found on BlackBerry App World.

Others now available are:

Endomondo Sports Tracker

By Endomondo

Use your mobile as a free personal coach and training partner! Using the built-in GPS, it tracks your running, cycling, hiking, kayaking, skiing - you name it. As a bonus, you get audio feedback while working out!

With the accompanying free website, you get further analyses, a wide range of social sharing functions (Facebook and Twitter) and the ability to compete against your friends and followers.

This app is free and can be found on BlackBerry App World.

FanFeedr Personal sports news by FanFeedr

By Handster Inc.

Do you have five minutes before you need to leave the house? 10 minutes before you go to bed? Some free time at the office? FanFeedr gives you a real-time feed of sports info that matters to you!

FanFeedr allows you to get the latest news, analysis, scores, Tweets, and more by your favorite sports teams and athletes!

This app is free and can be found on Blackberry App world.

Wild Olympics

- Athletics

By Colombia Games S.A,S

Use your concentration and make your gazella jump correctly over all hurdles to win the race!

You have only one chance, it is your opportunity to win the Wild Olympics! This app is free and can be found on BlackBerry App World.

Virtual Table Tennis 3D

By Clapfoot Inc.

Fast paced table tennis action comes to your BlackBerry PlayBook!

Perform smashing serves and side-spin shots to take out your opponents in this exciting sports simulation!

source: mb.com.ph

Jordyn Wieber's First Day in Olympic Competition Ends Unexpectedly

Jordyn Wieber was all but a lock to compete in – and potentially win – the all-around final in women's gymnastics at the Olympic Games.

"Her mental toughness, that's what helps her succeed consistently," 1996 gold medal-winning gymnast Dominique Moceanu told PEOPLE earlier this month. "I think she's got a lot to offer the team and her and Gabby [Douglas] are going to be the ones striving for those all-around medals, definitely."

The current national and world champion, Wieber herself blogged for PEOPLE just days before the Olympics began, saying, "I can't wait for competition to start."

But Sunday, the first day of women's gymnastics competition at the Games, proved to be more dramatic than Wieber, 17, may have expected. (SPOILERS AHEAD …)

After her routines on vault, beam, bars and floor earned what some believe to be questionably low scores, Wieber was edged out of the individual all-around final, leaving her sobbing on the competition floor. Her teammates Aly Raisman and Gabrielle Douglas qualified for the final.






But Wieber wasn't the only one stunned by the result. Raisman, who had a stellar day, was in tears as well, and Wieber's coach spoke out on the surprising finish. "I'm basically devastated for her," John Geddert, told reporters after the qualification, Gymnastike.org reports.

"She has trained her entire life for this day and to have it turn out anything less than she deserves is going to be devastating. She has waited her entire career for this. She is happy for her teammates and disappointed that she doesn't get to move on."

Gymnastics fans were abuzz following the tearful result for Wieber, and Geddert addressed what many were thinking: that his athlete was robbed by the judges.

"That's the lowest floor score she's gotten ... ever," said Geddert. "And again, they gave her nothing in her floor routine that was questionable."

Team coordinator Marta Karolyi was sympathetic to Wieber's result, but more accepting of the outcome.

"I would be very disappointed, too," Karolyi told reporters. "Today she wasn't quite as sharp. She was very good but not quite as sharp and the other two girls surpassed her ... What can you do? Sport is sport."

And it appears that Wieber herself is turning her attention to her next competition – the team final, which takes place on Tuesday.

"Thank you all for your love and support," she Tweeted late Sunday. "I am so proud of our team today and I can't wait for team finals!!"

source: people.com