Biles out

[Anonymous]

I just wish she'd made her decision two hours earlier. Then an alternate, who has also been working her whole life for a chance at the Olympics, could have had a chance to compete. There are several fabulous US alternates who will never get to make an Olympic appearance because of the deep US bench, when they could easily lead a team if they were competing for any other country.

It is Biles' right to sit out, but she should have made the call sooner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

They had not warmed upon the apparatus they weren't designated to compete on. Jordan Chiles was not rostered to do bars and beam, and Suni Lee was not rostered to do floor. Apparently they didn't warm up on those events in the practice gym before the competition.

Did you even watch?? Jordan Chiles did get her 30 seconds on the bar to warm up like all the other ladies. I saw it. At that point Simone walked back out on the floor (before people knew she was withdrawing) and the commentators even said they weren't sure what could happen then because even if Simone wanted to rejoin the competition she probably wasn't allowed to do so for the uneven bars because Jordan had already warmed up on it. They specifically said they weren't sure what the rules around a situation like that were and if there were even written down rules.

And regardless, Jordan NAILED her bar routine. She was ecstatic, literally whooping with joy at the end. She may have flubbed her floor routine but for the bars, Simone gave her a great opportunity and she rocked it. I'm sure she's super bitter at Simone over that. /s

Yes, I did watch. That short touch warmup isn't the same as what is done beforehand in the practice gym. She specifically said that she didn't warm up bars. Jordan kept it together, and was obviously happy with her performance, which was all the more amazing under the circumstances. In terms of whether she NAILED it, the got a 14.166 which was very good. However, at nationals she scored in the 14.4- 14.6 range. It was however, a tremendous improvement over her qualifying score at the Olympics, which was less than 12.9, which makes it even more remarkable that she kept it together. She did the same on beam, too, despite having a disastrous beam qualification. She should be very proud. Going into the Olympics, she had been the model of consistency. It is so impressive how she bounced back from such a disappointing qualification, which makes me respect her even more.

[Anonymous]

Adding that I watched all of the qualifications (yes, all 5 subdivisions) and the coverage of the team final live, not just the BS coverage NBC decided to show you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Adding that I watched all of the qualifications (yes, all 5 subdivisions) and the coverage of the team final live, not just the BS coverage NBC decided to show you.

Please tell me how I can see this!!

NBC’s coverage was absolute trash. You would never know there were more than 2 countries competing for a Team medal based on what was aired.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I wish the other team members were getting as much press as Biles is. They pulled it together and won silver. That says something positive about their mental health/resilience.

*1. It’s been treated like an afterthought by the press. That is a tremendous accomplishment.

They are being treated like they lost.

They did lose, didn't they? Russia won and it wasn't a favorite going in.

They were favorites going in based on a team selected that included Simone competing all four events. Not only did they have to do 3 events without her, to win gold they would have had to overcome Simone's vault score. To compare, Simone's high score on vault at nationals was 15.8 and she got something like a 13.7 or 8 yesterday. On top of that, the other team members subbing in had not even warmed up on the apparatus they were not originally designated to compete on.

Did the other three under perform? You could make an argument that two of them could have done better. Jordan Chiles definitely could have. However, Suni Lee tied for the highest bars score, had the second highest beam score, and on floor, the event she did not plan to compete, she got the 8th highest score of all gymnasts. That is an absolutely incredible performance, especially under the circumstances.

Those trashing the performance of the other women aren’t helping Simone’s case. The bolded is being ignored — anyone want to think about the mental stress of being told — mid-competition in the freaking Olympics — that you have to perform an event that you didn’t even warm up for? What about their mental health? Not to mention the fact that there is probably someone lower on the team who wasn’t as good all around as Biles, but would have done better on one or more of the remaining events than the three that were left. I think the woman who is competing in the individual all-around is 9th on the team, but placed very highly (like 2nd?) in qualifying on an individual event.

I do think it would behoove her to show a bit of sympathy for her teammates. She acts like she was doing them a favor. “It was best for them that I quit.” Really? What would have been best for them was if she had quit before the event or even before the Olympic trials. “You don’t owe anyone a gold medal.” If you try out for the Olympic team, you actually do owe your teammates — and the country you represent. It was the team event she dropped out of.

Not to mention the fact that she made sure, by doing it the way she did, that everyone us talking about her, not the women who had to step up and perform.

I’m not saying she should have continued, but I haven’t heard anything from her that sounds like contrition or sympathy for the awful position she put those three women in. It seems like these days, citing your own mental health excuses any kind of harm done to others — “mental health” means never having to say you’re sorry?

Awful position? Are you serious? These women have been training their whole lives to get to compete at the Olympics. It sucks when someone has to step down, but it is an OPPORTUNITY for the others who get to step up and replace her. To get so close, and be the reserve, has to be far more heartbreaking than getting a chance to compete.

You must not do Olympic sports. In my sport we had a couple last minute substitutions, and while we were all heartbroken for the competitors who couldn’t go after ALL those years of training and getting on the team….the reserve is absolutely ecstatic to be competing. That’s normal. Not to feel put upon.

The bolded is true only if the reserve has been training for it and warmed up properly. No one is ecstatic to perform in something unprepared.

Of course they have been training for it, they are the traveling reserve. They are literally treated as if they might need to step in any moment as the competing athlete…because they might. That is how being the reserve works.

They had not warmed upon the apparatus they weren't designated to compete on. Jordan Chiles was not rostered to do bars and beam, and Suni Lee was not rostered to do floor. Apparently they didn't warm up on those events in the practice gym before the competition.

The “apparatus” are all set to a very specific standard so there isn’t that much difference among any of them. I am sure the reserves had done the routines many, many times on a basically identical structure—as evidenced by the fact they rocked it. I am sure they are delighted with their opportunity to compete.

So, now we’re back to “these women are tough and have absolutely no reason to be stressed?” The double standard here is amazing. Biles backed out on events that she had prepared and warmed up for, and that’s perfectly understandable — praiseworthy even! — but these women are “delighted” to compete in events they didn’t get to be prepared for with millions of people watching? No extra stress there.

+1. This is actually a very good point. Why do people care about the stress on Biles but not the other gymnasts who would have surely experienced less stress if they had had more notice and time to warm up?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Adding that I watched all of the qualifications (yes, all 5 subdivisions) and the coverage of the team final live, not just the BS coverage NBC decided to show you.

Please tell me how I can see this!!

NBC’s coverage was absolute trash. You would never know there were more than 2 countries competing for a Team medal based on what was aired.

All of the events are online at the NBC Olympics channel. I watch on Roku, but I assume you can watch on a computer. Do you need a cable provider though. The coverage is so much better. For qualifications, they had a USA tracker, the main feed, and then quad screen to see all of the routines.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I wish the other team members were getting as much press as Biles is. They pulled it together and won silver. That says something positive about their mental health/resilience.

*1. It’s been treated like an afterthought by the press. That is a tremendous accomplishment.

They are being treated like they lost.

They did lose, didn't they? Russia won and it wasn't a favorite going in.

They were favorites going in based on a team selected that included Simone competing all four events. Not only did they have to do 3 events without her, to win gold they would have had to overcome Simone's vault score. To compare, Simone's high score on vault at nationals was 15.8 and she got something like a 13.7 or 8 yesterday. On top of that, the other team members subbing in had not even warmed up on the apparatus they were not originally designated to compete on.

Did the other three under perform? You could make an argument that two of them could have done better. Jordan Chiles definitely could have. However, Suni Lee tied for the highest bars score, had the second highest beam score, and on floor, the event she did not plan to compete, she got the 8th highest score of all gymnasts. That is an absolutely incredible performance, especially under the circumstances.

Those trashing the performance of the other women aren’t helping Simone’s case. The bolded is being ignored — anyone want to think about the mental stress of being told — mid-competition in the freaking Olympics — that you have to perform an event that you didn’t even warm up for? What about their mental health? Not to mention the fact that there is probably someone lower on the team who wasn’t as good all around as Biles, but would have done better on one or more of the remaining events than the three that were left. I think the woman who is competing in the individual all-around is 9th on the team, but placed very highly (like 2nd?) in qualifying on an individual event.

I do think it would behoove her to show a bit of sympathy for her teammates. She acts like she was doing them a favor. “It was best for them that I quit.” Really? What would have been best for them was if she had quit before the event or even before the Olympic trials. “You don’t owe anyone a gold medal.” If you try out for the Olympic team, you actually do owe your teammates — and the country you represent. It was the team event she dropped out of.

Not to mention the fact that she made sure, by doing it the way she did, that everyone us talking about her, not the women who had to step up and perform.

I’m not saying she should have continued, but I haven’t heard anything from her that sounds like contrition or sympathy for the awful position she put those three women in. It seems like these days, citing your own mental health excuses any kind of harm done to others — “mental health” means never having to say you’re sorry?

Awful position? Are you serious? These women have been training their whole lives to get to compete at the Olympics. It sucks when someone has to step down, but it is an OPPORTUNITY for the others who get to step up and replace her. To get so close, and be the reserve, has to be far more heartbreaking than getting a chance to compete.

You must not do Olympic sports. In my sport we had a couple last minute substitutions, and while we were all heartbroken for the competitors who couldn’t go after ALL those years of training and getting on the team….the reserve is absolutely ecstatic to be competing. That’s normal. Not to feel put upon.

The bolded is true only if the reserve has been training for it and warmed up properly. No one is ecstatic to perform in something unprepared.

Of course they have been training for it, they are the traveling reserve. They are literally treated as if they might need to step in any moment as the competing athlete…because they might. That is how being the reserve works.

They had not warmed upon the apparatus they weren't designated to compete on. Jordan Chiles was not rostered to do bars and beam, and Suni Lee was not rostered to do floor. Apparently they didn't warm up on those events in the practice gym before the competition.

The “apparatus” are all set to a very specific standard so there isn’t that much difference among any of them. I am sure the reserves had done the routines many, many times on a basically identical structure—as evidenced by the fact they rocked it. I am sure they are delighted with their opportunity to compete.

So, now we’re back to “these women are tough and have absolutely no reason to be stressed?” The double standard here is amazing. Biles backed out on events that she had prepared and warmed up for, and that’s perfectly understandable — praiseworthy even! — but these women are “delighted” to compete in events they didn’t get to be prepared for with millions of people watching? No extra stress there.

The other women presumably weren't suffering from mental health challenges as Biles was. You sound like you don't believe mental health is a legitimate concern, and that makes me pity those who have to be are around you.

DP. “Presumably” is doing a lot of work in your post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just wish she'd made her decision two hours earlier. Then an alternate, who has also been working her whole life for a chance at the Olympics, could have had a chance to compete. There are several fabulous US alternates who will never get to make an Olympic appearance because of the deep US bench, when they could easily lead a team if they were competing for any other country.

It is Biles' right to sit out, but she should have made the call sooner.

She should have known that her body would do 1.5 when she told it to do 2.5 2 hours before it happened?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just wish she'd made her decision two hours earlier. Then an alternate, who has also been working her whole life for a chance at the Olympics, could have had a chance to compete. There are several fabulous US alternates who will never get to make an Olympic appearance because of the deep US bench, when they could easily lead a team if they were competing for any other country.

It is Biles' right to sit out, but she should have made the call sooner.

I think you have to notify 24 hours in advance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Adding that I watched all of the qualifications (yes, all 5 subdivisions) and the coverage of the team final live, not just the BS coverage NBC decided to show you.

Please tell me how I can see this!!

NBC’s coverage was absolute trash. You would never know there were more than 2 countries competing for a Team medal based on what was aired.

I was just watching some biking thing at lunch and nobody was USA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You forget, they said it a thousand times during the events; SB is competing with herself.only and has been for years. They even adjusted the scoring system to accommodate other gymnasts because she performs at the highest difficulty. Other gymnasts cannot even do her skills. It is too risky. So, she simply said enough to the face in her mirror. She figured out there was no more work left to do. She is also instrumental to the other women on the team. She is praised for turning around Jordan Chile's as she almost threw in the towel. Simone had her train with her in Texas, rebuilt confidence and look where she is at. This sport is so unforgiving
The margin is so very small, the price so very steep. You train your whole life and sacrifice everything. Loom at the lives of some of the greats after gymnastics. It is harrowing. Dominique Moceanu was my favorite and her life exploded afterwards. Svetlana Khorkina had a lot of trouble although she is Russian. Shannon suffered in silence horribly. She never smiled and only talked once of the turmoil she went through. Some did not make it. Google Betty Okino ( did not die) and Julissa Gomez (passed away). I have studied gymnastics forever and am wowed by the newfound strength athletes are having regarding taking charge or their lives. The Karolyi's are clearly not in charge anymore. Definitely a power shift from coach to player.

Thank you for stating this so clearly.

I am the one who posted about the power shift. It is critical that people understand that after the Karolyi regime left, the current coaches do NOT operate under the same model, which is 100% control of food, body, training, brain and power. The gymnasts under Eastern bloc regime's operate like this to have 100% submission over the gymnast. They even have legal guardianship over these kids. The current coaches function as an actual coach and facilitator. It is hi-fives and they give pointers but as the commentator said, Biles has a coach but he only offers tips and Biles mainly coaches herself. She is in control not the coach. I am just elaborating not opinionating. The Russians deserve every bit of glory. Lillia Podkopayeva and Svetlana Khorkina were the last greats of Russia and they have been so busy rebuilding their gymnastics program. You will never hear about what those girl a go through and there will be no complaints or quitting either. You know who is in control.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just wish she'd made her decision two hours earlier. Then an alternate, who has also been working her whole life for a chance at the Olympics, could have had a chance to compete. There are several fabulous US alternates who will never get to make an Olympic appearance because of the deep US bench, when they could easily lead a team if they were competing for any other country.

It is Biles' right to sit out, but she should have made the call sooner.

This assumes that she knew she couldn’t compete 2hrs earlier. I don’t know why this bothers some of y’all so much, do you personally know one of the alternates or something?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just wish she'd made her decision two hours earlier. Then an alternate, who has also been working her whole life for a chance at the Olympics, could have had a chance to compete. There are several fabulous US alternates who will never get to make an Olympic appearance because of the deep US bench, when they could easily lead a team if they were competing for any other country.

It is Biles' right to sit out, but she should have made the call sooner.

This assumes that she knew she couldn’t compete 2hrs earlier. I don’t know why this bothers some of y’all so much, do you personally know one of the alternates or something?

Pp again- Oh and I don’t know that they could have pulled in an alternate that close anyway- at most it would have given Chiles and Lee an opportunity to warm up events they were t slated to compete.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just wish she'd made her decision two hours earlier. Then an alternate, who has also been working her whole life for a chance at the Olympics, could have had a chance to compete. There are several fabulous US alternates who will never get to make an Olympic appearance because of the deep US bench, when they could easily lead a team if they were competing for any other country.

It is Biles' right to sit out, but she should have made the call sooner.

She should have known that her body would do 1.5 when she told it to do 2.5 2 hours before it happened?

No, she has said she felt mentally unwell for days or weeks before. All of the talk about the twisties and issues with the 1.5 are speculation by posters. I don't think pulling out suddenly dawned on her after the 1.5--she was too composed for that to be true. She'd clearly been thinking about it as an option coming into the competition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Adding that I watched all of the qualifications (yes, all 5 subdivisions) and the coverage of the team final live, not just the BS coverage NBC decided to show you.

Please tell me how I can see this!!

NBC’s coverage was absolute trash. You would never know there were more than 2 countries competing for a Team medal based on what was aired.

All of the events are online at the NBC Olympics channel. I watch on Roku, but I assume you can watch on a computer. Do you need a cable provider though. The coverage is so much better. For qualifications, they had a USA tracker, the main feed, and then quad screen to see all of the routines.

DP- I tried to watch the replays last night and kept having issues with the audio- like it would start and then start playing again, so there would be two or more audio streams going at the same time in different places. So distracting! I had to just turn the volume all the way down.