MyKayla Skinner To Replace Simone Biles In Vault Final
Jul 30, 2021, 7:50 PM | Updated: 11:38 pm
Mykayla Skinner of Team United States competes on uneven bars during Women's Qualification on day two of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Gymnastics Centre on July 25, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
(Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Team USA Gymnastics has replaced Simone Biles on the vault final event with former Red Rocks star MyKayla Skinner.
Simone Biles has also withdrawn from the uneven bars.
The vault final will take place on Sunday, August 1 at 2 a.m. MDT.
BREAKING: @mykaylaskinner will compete for a medal in the vault after Simone Biles officially withdraws from the vault and uneven bars, according to @NBCOlympics.
More to come on https://t.co/4kU961CZ7h
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) July 31, 2021
Skinner broke the news on social media, saying, “Looks like I get to put a competition Leo on just one more time. Can’t wait to compete in vault finals. Doing this for us Simone Biles. It’s go time baby!”
She posted a video on her YouTube channel just prior to the announcement where she talked about how it had been a difficult decision to decide to stay in Tokyo with the team after she was “done.”
“It is kind of hard to be in the position now that I’m done and everyone’s still going,” she said in the video. “I’m just kind of ready to go home. I know I probably won’t compete vault, even though I’m third. I really want to be here to support the girls on the team, but I just feel like there’s so much for me to do if I were to go home and to start packing for Utah. It’s a really hard decision. I’m trying to pray about it and hopefully, get a sign to know what to do.”
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USA Gymnastics released the following statement on Friday.
“Today, after further consultation with medical staff, Simone Biles has decided to withdraw from the event finals for vault and uneven bars. She will continue to be evaluated daily to determine whether to compete in the finals for floor exercise and balance beam,” the statement read. “MyKayla Skinner, who had the fourth highest score in vault during qualifications, will compete in vault finals for the U.S. alongside Jade Carey, who finished with the second highest score. We remain in awe of Simone, who continues to handle this situation with courage and grace, and all of the athletes have stepped up during these unexpected circumstances.”
Biles status for balance beam and floor will continue to be evaluated daily.
After further consultation with medical staff, Simone Biles has decided to withdraw from the event finals for vault and the uneven bars. She will continue to be evaluated daily to determine whether to compete in the finals for floor exercise and balance beam. pic.twitter.com/kWqgZJK4LJ
— USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) July 31, 2021
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Trevor Allen is a Utah Utes Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Crimson Corner podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @TrevorASports. You can download and listen to the podcast, here.
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