I think it was understandably a lot easier to cite an ankle injury than to say that her head wasn't in the right space. But I do think the latter is why she pulled out.
It's just a shame because she could physically do the routines. And quite something because she showed her mental toughness was remarkable in 2012 by suddenly becoming consistent on beam when it mattered at the Olympics after struggling on the event all year. And then again showing her mental toughness in 2016 by becoming leaps better at the Olympics than at Nationals and Trials.
I guess the pressure this time was too much. Understandable considering even Simone, who was a rock under pressure her whole career, finally faced too much pressure in Tokyo. Even the greatest and toughest under pressure can struggle with it when it becomes too great.
It's just a shame because she could physically do the routines. And quite something because she showed her mental toughness was remarkable in 2012 by suddenly becoming consistent on beam when it mattered at the Olympics after struggling on the event all year. And then again showing her mental toughness in 2016 by becoming leaps better at the Olympics than at Nationals and Trials.
I guess the pressure this time was too much. Understandable considering even Simone, who was a rock under pressure her whole career, finally faced too much pressure in Tokyo. Even the greatest and toughest under pressure can struggle with it when it becomes too great.