Tokyo : Russian gymnasts claimed a first women’s Olympic all-around team gold in 29 years on Tuesday at the Tokyo Games while superstar Simone Biles from rivals United States made a shock withdrawal early in the final.
Vladislava Urazova, Viktoriia Listunova, Angelina Melnikova and alternate Liliia Akhaimova took a surprise gold with 169.258 points points after four rotations at Ariake Gymnastics centre, dpa international.
The Americans, winners in 2012 and 2016, trailed by more than three points on 166.096, and Britain took bronze on 194.096, a first medal for their gymnastics women in 93 years.
Biles said she had “no injury” and admitted the coronavirus-hit Games and the long build-up have been “stressful as a whole.”
She said having a half-day off on Wednesday would be “a good mental rest and we will take it from there.”
The 24-time world and Olympic champion Biles withdrew after an erratic performance by her standard in the first rotation on the vault.
The 24-year-old left the arena, returning with a heavily strapped foot and reserve Jordan Chiles took her place for the remaining three rotations.
“Simone Biles has withdrawn from the team final competition due to a medical issue.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,” the US gymnastics federation later tweeted, giving no further details.
Biles is one of the biggest stars in Tokyo but has not looked as dominant as in the past, and even International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach was seen talking to her after the competition.
Tuesday’s withdrawal ended her bid for six golds but she led qualifying for the individual event set for Thursday and is also in all four apparatus finals which take place next week.
