Aly Raisman, Laurie Hernandez and More React to Simone Biles Withdrawing From Tokyo Olympics Gymnastics Final

Credit: Shutterstock (3)

Aly Raisman, Laurie Hernandez and More React to Simone Biles Withdrawing From Tokyo Olympics Gymnastics Final

Trouble in Tokyo. Athletes and celebrities are speaking out after Simone Biles withdrew from the gymnastics final at the Tokyo Olympics on Tuesday, July 27. USA Gymnastics confirmed in a statement that the 24-year-old gold medalist opted not to compete with Sunisa Lee and Grace McCallum on Tuesday, with Jordan Chiles taking her place on the uneven bars. Team USA subsequently took home the silver, with Russia securing the gold. "Simone Biles has withdrawn from the team final competition due to a medical issue," the statement read. "She will be assessed daily to determine medical clearance for future competitions." While Biles has yet to publicly comment on her sudden departure, she was spotted cheering on her teammates in warm-up gear during the event. John Roethlisberger later told NBC News, “We’ve just been told that, with regards to Simone withdrawing, it is not injury-related. It is a mental issue that Simone is having.” Aly Raisman, who competed with Biles at the 2016 Rio Olympics, told the Today show she feels “sick to her stomach” about the situation. “It’s horrible,” Raisman said on Tuesday. “I know that all of these athletes dream of this moment for their whole entire lives, and so I’m just completely devastated. I am obviously so worried and just hoping that Simone is OK.” [jwplayer RksPmlR9-l3ahXupL] The Fierce author added, “I also am just thinking about the mental impact that this has to have on Simone. It’s just so much pressure, and I’ve been watching how much pressure has been on her in the months leading up to the Games, and it’s just devastating. I feel horrible.” Raisman’s concerns about Biles come after her candid post about the Olympics being “no joke” ahead of the team final. “It wasn’t an easy day or my best but I got through it. I truly do feel like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders at times,” she wrote on Monday, July 26, via Instagram. “I know I brush it off and make it seem like pressure doesn’t affect me but damn sometimes it’s hard hahaha! The olympics is no joke! BUT I’m happy my family was able to be with me virtually🤍 they mean the world to me!” Scroll through for more reactions to the news about Biles:

Credit: Shutterstock (3)

Aly Raisman, Laurie Hernandez and More React to Simone Biles Withdrawing From Tokyo Olympics Gymnastics Final

Trouble in Tokyo. Athletes and celebrities are speaking out after Simone Biles withdrew from the gymnastics final at the Tokyo Olympics on Tuesday, July 27. USA Gymnastics confirmed in a statement that the 24-year-old gold medalist opted not to compete with Sunisa Lee and Grace McCallum on Tuesday, with Jordan Chiles taking her place on the uneven bars. Team USA subsequently took home the silver, with Russia securing the gold. "Simone Biles has withdrawn from the team final competition due to a medical issue," the statement read. "She will be assessed daily to determine medical clearance for future competitions." While Biles has yet to publicly comment on her sudden departure, she was spotted cheering on her teammates in warm-up gear during the event. John Roethlisberger later told NBC News, “We’ve just been told that, with regards to Simone withdrawing, it is not injury-related. It is a mental issue that Simone is having.” Aly Raisman, who competed with Biles at the 2016 Rio Olympics, told the Today show she feels “sick to her stomach” about the situation. “It’s horrible,” Raisman said on Tuesday. “I know that all of these athletes dream of this moment for their whole entire lives, and so I’m just completely devastated. I am obviously so worried and just hoping that Simone is OK.” [jwplayer RksPmlR9-l3ahXupL] The Fierce author added, “I also am just thinking about the mental impact that this has to have on Simone. It’s just so much pressure, and I’ve been watching how much pressure has been on her in the months leading up to the Games, and it’s just devastating. I feel horrible.” Raisman’s concerns about Biles come after her candid post about the Olympics being “no joke” ahead of the team final. “It wasn’t an easy day or my best but I got through it. I truly do feel like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders at times,” she wrote on Monday, July 26, via Instagram. “I know I brush it off and make it seem like pressure doesn’t affect me but damn sometimes it’s hard hahaha! The olympics is no joke! BUT I’m happy my family was able to be with me virtually🤍 they mean the world to me!” Scroll through for more reactions to the news about Biles:

Credit: Peter Barreras/Invision/AP/Shutterstock

Katie Ledecky

“She's such an amazing athlete. She's really shown a lot of bravery over the last week. [She] reminded everyone that mental health is a key part of health,” the gold medalist exclusively told Us Weekly after returning back to the U.S. “I'm glad that she put her safety and her health first. Even if it wasn't easy. It's actions like hers that hopefully help shape our society's conversation around health, mental health, physical health. The two, they're very connected. I was really glad that she was able to show that courage and come back and earn bronze on the [balance] beam for herself. And really show the person that she is.”

Credit: Jordan Strauss/AP/Shutterstock

Taylor Swift

After the "Betty" songstress narrated a clip about the gymnast for NBC's coverage of the balance beam event final, Biles shared her reaction via social media. "I’m crying," the Courage to Soar author tweeted. "How special. I love you @taylorswift13." 

The Grammy winner, whose song "This Is Me Trying" was also featured in the video, replied to Biles' tweet with her own heartfelt message. "I cried watching YOU," she wrote. "I feel so lucky to have gotten to watch you all these years, but this week was a lesson in emotional intelligence and resilience. We all learned from you. Thank you." 

Credit: Shutterstock

Tom Felton

“Mental health is something I'm incredibly passionate about. @Simone_Biles thank you for telling the world that no competition, medal, or honor is greater than our own health,” the Harry Potter star wrote via Twitter.

Credit: ABC/Shutterstock

Justin Bieber

A mental health advocate in his own right, Bieber shared a sweet message of support for Biles in an Instagram post.

“Nobody will ever understand the pressures you face! I know we don’t know each other but I’m so proud of the decision to withdraw. It’s as simple as - what does it mean to gain the whole world but forfeit your soul. Sometimes our no’s are more powerful than our yes’s. When what you normally love starts to steal your joy it’s important we take a step back to evaluate why,” the “Sorry” singer wrote. “People thought I was crazy for not finishing the Purpose tour but it was the best thing I could have done for my mental health!! So proud of you @simonebiles.”

The gymnast shared the Grammy winner's post via her own Instagram Story alongside heart and pointing emojis.

Credit: Kathy Hutchins/Shutterstock

Nastia Liukin

The Olympic gold medalist is no stranger to the pressure Biles has faced. In a heartfelt Instagram post, she penned a letter to her all-around gold successor.

“Dear Simone, Thank you,” the message began. “Thank you for showing the depth of who you are beyond an athlete as a leader, role model, mental health warrior, and person. Thank you for epitomizing what the next generation of role models should be. Thank you for creating a safer space for current and future athletes to unequivocally be themselves. Thank you for helping the world realize that prioritizing your physical and mental health is the mark of a true champion.”

The 2008 champion continued, “Thank you for illuminating that nobody is defined by the depth of their trophy case, and that you don't owe anything to anyone but yourself and the pursuit of happiness. Thank you for taking the sport of gymnastics to new heights as the unanimous GOAT. No one will be remembered for any single routine, competition, or medal. You, however, will undeniably be remembered by many for the compassion and bravery shown here in Tokyo. You came here as a gymnast, and you're leaving as a hero. xo NL.”

Credit: Matt Petit/A.M.P.A.S./Shutterstock

Reese Witherspoon

The Legally Blonde star shared a photo of Biles to her Instagram story.

“This woman is incredible,” she wrote. “It takes so much courage to step away from something that does not serve you… even if the whole world has an opinion. So proud of you, Simone.”

Credit: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP/Shutterstock

Amanda Kloots

The Talk cohost shared a message of support for the gymnast via Instagram. “@simonebiles you just won a gold medal in the ‘I’m taking care of myself!’ Olympics,” Kloots wrote. “Way to be a leader on the worlds stage yet again but in the category of mental health. Cheering you on!”

Credit: MEGA

Amanda Gorman

The Hill We Climb author reposted Biles’ Instagram message on her Story with the caption, “We love you @simonebiles,” adding two yellow heart emojis and a praying-hands one.

Credit: Anthony Harvey/Shutterstock

Kerry Washington

The Scandal alum reposted Biles’ quote about prioritizing mental health via her Story. She added the caption, “It takes the strength, power and bravery of a CHAMPION to put your health first. @simonebiles we love you. Thank you,” alongside a red heart and praying-hands emoji.

Credit: Michael Reynolds/EPA/Shutterstock

Dominique Moceanu

The former Olympic gymnast shared an old video of her competition via Twitter, alongside the message, “I was 14 y/o w/ a tibial stress fracture, left alone w/ no cervical spine exam after this fall. I competed in the Olympic floor final minutes later. @Simone_Biles decision demonstrates that we have a say in our own health—‘a say’ I NEVER felt I had as an Olympian.”

Credit: Jim Smeal/Shutterstock

Michael Phelps

An Olympic GOAT in his own right, the Maryland native and mental health advocate voiced his support for Biles during NBC's Tuesday night broadcast of the sporting event. "We carry a lot of weight on our shoulders, and it's challenging," he said. "Especially when we have the lights on us and all of these expectations that are being thrown on top of us. ... I hope this is an eye-opening experience, I really do. I hope this is an opportunity for us to jump on board, and to even blow this mental health thing even more wide open. It is so much bigger than we can ever imagine."

Credit: Courtesy Jordan Chiles/Instagram

Jordan Chiles

The Team USA athlete told Today she "will forever be by her side" after it was confirmed that Biles would no longer compete in the individual all-around meet. "I was there for her, I supported her," Chiles said on Wednesday, July 28. "She is my ride or die. ... I honestly can tell you that she knows who she is, so when she goes out there, she's already done this before, she's already been an Olympian multiple times. I mean, she's the GOAT for the reason. ... We all understood what she was going through."

Credit: Shutterstock

Aly Raisman

During her Today appearance, Raisman added that she’s “praying” for Biles. “I think that Simone is the biggest story going into the Olympics, so this is just — it’s really, really devastating,” she said. “But I think it’s also just really important to think about how much pressure has been on her, and there’s only so much that someone can take. She’s human, and I think sometimes people forget that. And Simone, just like everyone else, is doing the best that she can.”

Credit: Shutterstock

Laurie Hernandez

“The whole globe is watching her right now and they are speculating every little thing and I can’t imagine what she’s feeling right now,” Hernandez said on Today. “There’s immense pressure, there’s this feeling of, like, ‘I don’t want to let my team down.’ … At the end of the day, mentally, physically, we just want to make sure that she’s OK.”

Credit: Shutterstock

MyKayla Skinner

"My heart broke for her," Skinner, a fellow Team USA competitor who failed to qualify as an individual competitor earlier this month, told Today. "I can't even imagine what she's going through right now. I wish I could run down there and give her a big hug."

Credit: Shutterstock

Sasha Farber

Biles’ season 24 Dancing With the Stars partner sent his love, tweeting, “Thinking of @Simone_Biles and what a legend she is.”

Credit: Shutterstock

Andy Cohen

“We love you @Simone_Biles !!!” the Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen host wrote via Twitter alongside an American flag emoji.

Credit: Shutterstock

Hoda Kotb

“Someone said it best. @Simone_Biles already won. She is a class act,” Kotb tweeted. “Withdrew from team competion [SIC] after vault … stayed and cheered on her teammates... got them chalk for their hands.. encouraged.. hugged them. She already won. Congrats on the silver medal! @TeamUSA @USAGym.”

Credit: Shutterstock

Holly Robinson Peete

“Still. The. GOAT. 🙏🏾  We LOVE you @Simone_Biles #Olympics,” the actress tweeted.