- Simone Biles withdrew from the Tokyo Olympics women's gymnastics team final after one event.
- Shortly after leaving the gym with a trainer, she returned to watch
Team USA compete. - Photos show Biles coaching and cheering on her teammates after pulling out of the competition.
Team USA is fighting for gold in the Tokyo
But the women's gymnastics GOAT was still committed to helping her team win however she could.
Biles was seen coaching her teammates from the sidelines during the final three events of the competition, cheering them on during their routines and offering them words of encouragement during breaks.
While Jordan Chiles - her training partner and club teammate - took center stage for her floor routine, Biles reportedly imitated some of the moves as the 20-year-old completed them under the bright lights.
-Will Graves (@WillGravesAP) July 27, 2021
And when Sunisa Lee stepped up for her routine, Biles was "screaming" in support.
-Nancy Armour (@nrarmour) July 27, 2021
The nature of Biles' exit from the competition remains unclear. She entered the games with a lingering ankle injury, and she may have aggravated the issue in the approach to her opening vault on Tuesday.
According to broadcasters covering the event, Biles' coach suggested that her shocking exit was due to mental health concerns. Perhaps the star - who has qualified for every medal event in the Tokyo Olympics' women's gymnastics competition - is taking time to mentally prepare for her coming individual events.
But later in the broadcast, NBC suggested that the issue was actually a physical one after all. Shortly thereafter,
"She will be assessed daily to determine medical clearance for future competitions," the statement continued.
-USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) July 27, 2021