POPSUGAR UK

Why Wasn't Simone Biles at the Olympics Opening Ceremony? Don't Worry, She Still Got to Celebrate!

23/07/2021 - 05:45 PM

🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸Love it! Sam Mikulak gets flagbearer honours as the Women's and Men's gymnastics teams from the USA hold their own private Opening Ceremony, since they won't be able to be in the Stadium tonight. #tokyo2020 [1] #gymnastics [2] #olympics [3]

🎥 Lisa Spini pic.twitter.com/Auruiq67Tc [4]

— Inside Gymnastics (@InsideGym) July 23, 2021 [5]

If you watched the more than two hours of athletes walking in the Opening Ceremony in Tokyo and you were excitedly waiting to see Team USA, especially Simone Biles, you might have been disappointed since she wasn't there. Don't worry — she's OK! According to the NY Times [6], the Women's Gymnastics Team didn't walk because the team is "focussed on preparation," said Meredith Yeoman, a spokeswoman for USA Gymnastics. This is also for the team's health and safety to ensure they'll be able to compete. And Biles still celebrated in her own way with this Team USA Men and Women's Gymnastics private Opening Ceremony, shown in these videos.

This mini ceremony was right outside where Biles is staying in a hotel nearby the athlete's Olympic Village since the team opted to take extra precautions and not stay in Olympic Village. The caption reads, "For awareness - 🇺🇸 artistic gymnasts are seen here holding their own private ceremony with it being so close to competition! Can't wait!" This got us pumped up for the Games! The Olympics are finally here — good luck Team USA!


Source URL
https://www.popsugar.co.uk/fitness/why-wasnt-simone-biles-at-2021-olympics-opening-ceremony-48431937