Simone Biles has been inundated with well-wishes and messages of support after withdrawing from another event in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
The 24-year-old gold medalist has now pulled out of Thursday's individual all-around final less than 24 hours after it was announced that she had withdrawn from the women's team all-around gymnastics final.
Biles, who is one of the most decorated gymnasts in Olympic history, withdrew after one rotation of the women's team final on Tuesday, July 27, which saw her score her lowest Olympic vault score.
When the news first broke, an unspecified medical issue was cited, with the official Twitter account for Gymnastics USA explaining: "Simone Biles has withdrawn from the team final competition due to a medical issue. She will be assessed daily to determine medical clearance for future competitions."
It has since been announced that her decision to pull out of the events was prompted by mental health concerns.
Gymnastics USA later tweeted the following statement:
"After further medical evaluation, Simone Biles has withdrawn from the final individual all-around competition at the Tokyo Olympic Games, in order to focus on her mental health.
"Simone will continue to be evaluated daily to determine whether or not to participate in next week's individual event finals. Jade Carey, who had the ninth-highest score in qualifications, will participate in her place in the all-around.
"We wholeheartedly support Simone's decision and applaud her bravery in prioritizing her wellbeing. Her courage shows, yet again, why she is a role model for so many."
Per BBC News, after the opening rotation, a dejected Biles commented: "After the performance I did, I just didn't want to go on. I have to focus on my mental health. I just think mental health is more prevalent in sports right now.
"We have to protect our minds and our bodies and not just go out and do what the world wants us to do. I don't trust myself as much anymore. Maybe it's getting older. There were a couple of days when everybody tweets you and you feel the weight of the world.
"We're not just athletes. We're people at the end of the day and sometimes you just have to step back."
Following news of Biles' mental health concerns, the athlete has been flooded with support from those who rightly believe that the gymnast's wellbeing should take precedence.
One person wrote: "Most decorated world championship gymnast in history, a host of Olympic medals and four moves named after her already, pretty sure that already cements her GOAT status. Mental health is equally as important as physical health."
Another wrote: "She has already shared her greatness with us. She’s allowed to have a moment of realization that her mental health is not where it needs to be. She’s allowed to put her health first. Believe it or not, she owes no one anything."
A third commenter criticized those who fail to realize the significance of mental health, writing: "Once again we see how mental health is not taken seriously. If she had a broken finger people would be not criticizing her for leaving, but since it's an invisible problem she should just 'get over it'."
Yet another commenter added: "I just can say it again. Most of people can't even do a presentation in front of their 10 colleagues at work but judge the greatest gymnast of all time because she didn't feel mentally prepared at her second Olympics. Just be quiet and try to regularly do sport even twice a week."
Biles will continue to be evaluated until next week in order to determine whether she is able to take part in the upcoming individual finals.