[ad_1]
Gymnastics star Simone Bilès revealed Tuesday that her aunt died “unexpectedly” during the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Biles, who returned to competition after a week off due to mental health problems, won a bronze medal on the beam on Tuesday. At a subsequent press conference, the 24-year-old told reporters about the loss of her aunt on her father’s side.
“At the end of the day, people don’t understand what we’re going through,” Biles said. “Two days ago, I woke up and my aunt died unexpectedly, and it wasn’t any easier to be here at the Olympics.”
“People have to realize that at the end of the day we are humans, we are not just entertainment,” she added. “There are things going on behind the scenes that people have no idea about.”
“I was like, ‘Oh my God. This week must be over,'” Biles coach Cécile Canqueteau-Landi told reporters, referring to the moment they heard the news of Biles’ aunt. . “I asked him, ‘What do you need?’ And she said, ‘I just need time.’ I said, “Call me, text me if you need anything, I’ll be there. Whatever. “She called her parents. She said, ‘I can’t do anything from here. So I’m just going to finish my week and when I get home we’ll take care of it.'”
Biles cheered on the sidelines like every gymnast in the U.S. women’s roster won at least one medal games.
“She was the best cheerleader. She wanted to be here, she didn’t have to. It was her own will to be here and she was really proud of them all,” Landi said.
Biles has retired from four individual finals at the Games, including the all-around, vault, uneven bars and floor exercise. she quoted mental health problems, later explaining that she suffered from “twisties” and feared injury during competition.
When Biles returned for the beam final, she did not perform any spins, completing a relatively straightforward routine.
“Every day I had to be medically evaluated by the doctors, then I had two sessions with a sports psychologist which kind of helped keep my head cool,” Biles said of the preparation. of the beam. “I was allowed to beam, which I honestly didn’t think I was allowed to do last night.”
The 7-time Olympic medalist wrote on Instagram Stories that she “leaves Tokyo with a full heart.”
“Not at all as I imagined or dreamed my second Olympics would go, but I am fortunate to represent the United States,” she wrote. “I will cherish this unique Olympic experience forever. Thank you all for the endless love and support. I am truly grateful.”
She added: “Leaving Tokyo with 2 more Olympic medals to add to my collection is not too bad!”
American silver medalist Raven Saunders, who made headlines this week after stepping off the podium and raising her arms above her head to form an “X” with her wrists, also revealed on Wednesday that her mother had passed away. The shot putter tweeted that “My mom was a great woman and will always live through me. My number one Guardian Angel.”
According to media reports, Clarissa Saunders died in Orlando, Florida, where she had attended Olympic nights. Spokesman Mark Adams said the IOC “offers its condolences to Raven and her family.”
[ad_2]
Source link