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"We are so excited to confirm that you will see two U.S.
athletes in the balance beam final tomorrow - Suni Lee AND
Simone Biles!! Can’t wait to watch you both!" USA Gymnastics
said in a statement.
It will be the first time the American will be seen competing in
Tokyo following her withdrawal from last Tuesday's women's team
final after her opening vault, citing mental health issues.
The 24-year-old American, who won four golds at the 2016 Rio
Games, dropped out of the all-around, floor exercise, vault and
asymmetric bars finals.
Biles is the reigning world champion on the beam and picked up
an Olympic bronze on the apparatus in Rio.
Biles has suffered a crisis of confidence in Tokyo as she dealt
with the "twisties" -- where gymnasts are disoriented during
their gravity-defying sequences.
"It's honestly petrifying trying to do a skill but not having
your mind & body in sync," Biles explained in an Instagram
story, in which she answered fan questions and shared practice
videos.
While a number of difficult acrobatic skills have to be
performed on the beam, fast-paced tumbling and aerial twisting
manoeuvres are limited on the apparatus, hence providing Biles
with the opportunity to add to the team silver medal she picked
up last week.
Despite not competing, Biles has been a constant presence at the
Ariake Gymnastics Centre over the past week to support her U.S.
team mates. Biles cheered on Sunisa Lee, who succeeded her as
Olympic all-around champion, and Mykayla Skinner, who stepped in
for her in women's vault final on Sunday and won silver.
(Reporting by Steve Keating in Tokyo, Editing by Pritha Sarkar)
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