Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee, was deeply impressed by the American gymnast Simone Biles.
“She openly admits that she has (mental, i.e. ed.) Problems, that's brave.
At the same time, she encourages her teammates and supports them on site when her successor is crowned.
It's a human quality and Olympic spirit of the best kind, ”said Bach.
The head of the International Olympic Committee had spoken to the superstar in the hall after Simone Biles' withdrawal from the team competition on Tuesday. "We're with her and we wish Simone all the best," said Bach on Friday: "I admire her for the way she deals with the situation."
Simone Biles (24 years old) had also skipped the Olympic all-around competition, but watched from the stands as her teammate Sunisa Lee won the gold medal in Tokyo. It is unclear whether Simone Biles will take part in the device finals from August 1st to 3rd. "I had to do what is right for me and focus on my mental health and not endanger my well-being," she said after her retreat. "For everyone who says that I have given up: I have not given up," wrote the American on Friday in her Instagram story. “My mind and my body are just not in harmony.” She doesn't know how long the problems lasted. "To be honest, I can't say that."