91Èȱ¬

American gymnast Simone Biles has been praised for prioritising "mental wellness over all else" after pulling out of her next Olympic event.

The four-time Olympic gold medallist has withdrawn from Thursday's individual all-around final in Tokyo - following her decision to pull out of the women's team final on Tuesday.

Biles, the most successful US gymnast of all time, said she had to focus on her mental health after her decision on Tuesday.

The head of the US Olympic team, many gymnasts, and other sportspeople were among those to praise Biles.

"You've made us so proud," said Sarah Hirshland, chief executive of the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee.

The 24-year-old has reached all five individual finals in Tokyo.

She was due to defend her all-around title on Thursday, before competing in the finals of the vault and uneven bars on Sunday, 1 August, floor on Monday, 2 August and beam on Tuesday, 3 August.

USA gymnastics said: "Simone will continue to be evaluated daily to determine whether or not to participate in next week's individual event finals.

"We wholeheartedly support Simone's decision and applaud her bravery in prioritising her well-being. Her courage shows, yet again, why she is a role model for so many."

Former Great Britain gymnast Beth Tweddle, a bronze medallist in 2012, said on 91Èȱ¬ One: "Since 2013 she's been undefeated in the all-around so every competition she goes in, everyone expects her to be perfection, and it's just not possible.

"She was strong enough to say: 'I'm just not right today and I've got the belief in the rest of the girls. They know they can step up, that they can do their routines.'

"We have got to make sure that the health and wellbeing of every athlete is the main priority."

Jordan Chiles, 20, replaced Biles in the women's team final, and said: "That was a huge thing. Those were definitely some big shoes that I had to fill and I'm very happy that I was able to do that.

"Yes, she is the GOAT. I was able to show the world that not only can you fill amazing people's shoes but we also did this together as well."

Former Olympic champion and retired US gymnast Aly Raisman said: "Just a friendly reminder: Olympic athletes are human and they're doing the best they can. It's really hard to peak at the right moment and do the routine of your life under such pressure."

Unicef USA tweeted: "Thank you for being a role model and showing the world it's OK to prioritise your mental health."

The US were favourites for gold after winning back-to-back Olympic gold medals in London and Rio.

After scoring 13.766 - her lowest Olympic vault score - Biles left the arena, but returned to support her team-mates as they took silver behind the Russian Olympic Committee, with Great Britain claiming bronze.

Team-mate Jordan Chiles stepped in to replace Biles and although she withdrew from the final, Biles still collected her silver medal with the team.

Biles is a 30-time Olympic and World Championship medallist, and needs four podium finishes in Tokyo to become the most decorated gymnast - male or female - in history.

Biles said: "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."

Biles spoke about the pressure athletes are under.

"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.

"I didn't want to go out and do something stupid and get hurt. ​I feel like a lot of athletes speaking up has really helped.

"It's so big, it's the Olympic Games. At the end of the day we don't want to be carried out of there on a stretcher."

The USA team said this experience has been made them stronger as a team and Biles said she was "super proud" of her team-mates.

Even before this final event, Biles says she was feeling the pressure. On Monday after the preliminary rounds she wrote on Instagram that it "wasn't an easy day or my best but I got through it."

She added: "I truly do feel like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders at times."

In a similar situation, back in May, Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka withdrew from the French Open to protect her mental health, which was supported publicly by many sportspeople including Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Serena Williams.

Biles, 24, is the most successful US gymnast of all time. At the last Games in Rio Biles won an impressive four gold medals and one bronze medal.

Biles is still due to compete on Thursday in the individual finals, where she will try to become the first woman to retain the Olympic all-around title since 1968.

She said: "We're going to see about Thursday," she said. "We're going to take it a day at a time and see what happens."