World-renowned gymnast Simone Biles announced her withdrawal from the US team gymnastics final at the Tokyo Olympics today. In a statement, Biles said she thought it would be "better to take a back seat [and] work on my mindfulness.”
Tony Retrosi owns the Atlantic Gymnastics Training Center in Portsmouth and says stress can often be a factor in high-level competition.
“When you're competing internationally, that pressure is known from the day they give you the warm-up jacket that has the name of your country on the back,” Retrosi said.
Retrosi, who has previously worked with the US national gymnastics team, and is currently working with the Italian national team, says gymnasts need to prepare for high-stress situations in competitions.
“For a 24-year-old to have the pressure of basically the entire country on her shoulders, that's a tough situation,” says Retrosi.
Biles is considered the best gymnast of all time, and she's the most decorated gymnast in history, with four Olympic gold medals and nineteen world titles. It is uncertain whether she will go on to compete in the individual events.
