Simone Biles has expressed defiance to critics after she withdrew from gymnastics events at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Biles, pulled out a number of events, citing the “twisties”, a phenomenon experienced by some gymnasts where the brain mentally blocks them from performing dangerous stunts.
Biles withdrew from all events, apart from the balance beam, where she won bronze. Inspiration for her decision came from tennis player Naomi Osaka, who withdrew from the French Open and opted not to compete at Wimbledon, she said.
However, Biles shared a Instagram post of her many medals, writing in the caption: “The word quitter is not in my vocabulary.
For some of you that may be how you define me but I can’t hear you over my seven Olympic gold medals,” before acknowledging that she is the most-decorated US gymnast of all time.
In total, she has 32 medals from the Olympics and World Championships; seven from the Olympic and 25 from Worlds.
The post has racked up millions of likes and thousands of positive comments. High profile commentators included the actor Viola Davis, supermodel Naomi Campbell and Barbie, the iconic brand of dolls.
