Simone Biles will make her long-awaited bid for an individual gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics on Tuesday, while the men’s 400m hurdles and women’s 200m finals take centre stage on the track.
American superstar gymnast Biles, who won four gold medals in Rio five years ago, has said she is struggling with the “twisties”, a condition where gymnasts lose the ability to orientate themselves in mid-air.
The 19-time world champion subsequently withdrew from the all-around final and three of the four apparatus finals — the floor, vault and uneven bars.
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Although it is not her strongest apparatus, the 24-year-old is a three-time beam world champion and took Olympic bronze in 2016.
Biles had arrived in Tokyo seeking five gold medals to equal the all-time Olympic record for a female competitor of nine.
Norwegian star Karsten Warholm, who broke a 29-year world record earlier this year, will renew his rivalry with the United States’ Rai Benjamin in the 400m hurdles final to close out the morning session.
“It feels great to go through, but the job’s not done.”
– Jamaican duo face off again –
Jamaicans Elaine Thompson-Herah and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce will go head-to-head again after the former denied her compatriot a record third 100m gold by defending her title on Saturday.
Thompson-Herah, who recorded a blistering 21.66secs in Monday’s semi-finals, and Fraser-Pryce could be challenged by 2016 400m winner Shaunae Miller-Uibo, rising US star Gabby Thomas and Namibian teenager Christine Mboma.
“I hope to run a good time and get a medal. I just do my best.”
Gold medals are also up for grabs in boxing, canoeing, diving, sailing, weightlifting and wrestling.
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