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MyKayla Skinner thinks Simone Biles will compete in balance beam

Simone Biles has one more chance to compete for gold, and her teammate believes that she will. Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Network

MyKayla Skinner thinks Simone Biles will compete in Olympic balance beam final

By Megan Armstrong | Last updated 8/1/21

Simone Biles has topped the podium for mental health awareness at the Tokyo Olympics, but there is still one more chance for the 24-year-old gymnast to compete for gold.

According to MyKayla Skinner, there's a real possibility that her Team USA teammate will participate in the women's balance beam final slated for Tuesday (Aug. 3).

"I don't know for sure, it’s kind of up to her," Skinner, who claimed silver in the women's vault final Sunday (Aug. 1), told reporters. "She should. I think she’s going to."

Biles competed in the vault during the women's gymnastics team final before withdrawing from the event. Her withdrawal from the women's all-around individual final followed soon after, citing mental health and, more specifically, "the twisties":

After further medical evaluation, Simone Biles has withdrawn from the final individual all-around competition. We wholeheartedly support Simone’s decision and applaud her bravery in prioritizing her well-being. Her courage shows, yet again, why she is a role model for so many. pic.twitter.com/6ILdtSQF7o
— USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) July 28, 2021

On her IG stories, Simone Biles responds to people who think she “quit” on her team by explaining the “the twisties” she’s been experiencing and what it feels like “not having your mind and body in sync” …. pic.twitter.com/79hN973rkd
— Kimberley A. Martin (@ByKimberleyA) July 30, 2021

Biles has additionally withdrawn from every individual event she had qualified for:

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

Simone has withdrawn from the event final for floor and will make a decision on beam later this week. Either way, we’re all behind you, Simone.
— USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) August 1, 2021

The United States won silver in the women's team final. Suni Lee went on to earn gold in the all-around individual final before landing a bronze medal in the uneven bars final:

Find you a friend, a teammate who will celebrate your personal victories as their own.

This is from @Simone_Biles’ IG. pic.twitter.com/YE47FP0WpP
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) July 29, 2021

Regardless of the picture the media tries to paint, the world really needs to know that Simone Biles is, in fact, cheering for her teammates and the other competitors with everything she has - so loud, you can hear her on the broadcast. She’s elated for them. pic.twitter.com/5PhVhTnudq
— queen of complaining about captions (@morgansglasses) August 1, 2021

Skinner's silver in vault came after she was named as Biles' replacement:

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!
— MyKayla Skinner (Harmer) (@mykaylaskinner) July 31, 2021

Delivered big time.

A message from vault silver medalist @mykaylaskinner. ♥️ #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/SM8Udc5Hay
— Team USA (@TeamUSA) August 1, 2021

Skinner, 24, previously qualified fourth overall for vault — ranked third behind Biles and Jade Carey — and was "actually getting ready to get on a plane to go home" when she learned she would have the opportunity to compete one last time before ending her gymnastics career.

"I dedicate this medal to Simone," Skinner said (h/t Deadline). "I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for her. I told her I would be doing this one for her. She said, ‘don’t do it for me, do it for yourself,’ so technically it's for all of us."

Biles solidified her GOAT status long before she landed in Tokyo. She became a global superstar by running away with four gold medals during the 2016 Rio Olympics, where she also won bronze, and is now a six-time Olympic medalist overall.

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