American gymnast Simone Biles was one of the biggest stars of the Olympic Games.

But the Olympics became a nightmare for Biles, who due to mental illness broke the team competition and stood over the finals in all-around, jumping, needles and freestyle before she was back in the boom final and took bronze.

The superstar was praised for her openness about mental illness, but now says that she would never have gone to Japan.

In an interview with New York Magazine, the 24-year-old says:

- I should have stopped long before Tokyo.

- If you look at everything I have gone through in the last seven years, I should never have been in another Olympic squad.

Over the seven years, Biles is referring to the high-profile scandal involving former national team doctor Larry Nassar, who has been convicted of several sexual assaults.

Earlier in September, Biles testified in Senate hearings in the aftermath of the scandal.

Now she says:

- I did not intend to let him take anything from me that I have worked for since the age of six.

I refused to let him take that joy away from me.

Therefore, I fought my way through it, as long as my brain and body allowed it.

About the time in Tokyo and that the competitions ended with "only" a bronze in boom and silver in the team competition, she says that it goes up and down.

- Sometimes I think it's completely OK, that's the way it is and that's how it turned out.

But other times I just start crying at home.

MORE BILES: Joe Biden pays tribute to Simone Biles: "A role model for everyone" (9 Aug)

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Joe Biden is impressed with Simone Bile's achievement.

Photo: TT News Agency