Simone Biles’ aunt died during Tokyo Olympics, coach says

The coach for Olympian Simone Biles announced that the gymnast had difficult family news amid her challenging week after dropping out of the team competition.

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Cecile Canqueteau-Landi said that Biles’ aunt died unexpectedly while Biles was at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

The aunt was her father’s sister, People magazine reported.

“I was like, ‘Oh, my God. This week needs to be over,’” Landi said Tuesday. “I asked [Simone]. ‘What do you need?’ And she said, ‘I just need some time.’ I said, ‘You call me, text me if you need anything I’ll be here. Whatever it is.’ She called her parents. She said, ‘There is nothing I can do from over here. So I’m just going to finish my week and when I get home we’ll deal with it.’”

Biles shared the news with reporters after her Bronze medal-winning performance on the beam individual competition and return to the gymnastics floor, People magazine reported.

>>Related: Simone Biles returns to win bronze in balance beam at Tokyo Olympics

Last week, Biles dropped from the team competition for the finals and she also dropped out of the individual all-around, vault, uneven bars and floor competitions.

She cited mental health concerns as the reason for her decision to withdraw and had two sessions with Team USA’s psychologist before getting the OK to return to competition.

Biles also said she had a case of the “twisties,” where her mind and body were not in sync, People magazine reported.

>>Related: Photos: Simone Biles wins bronze in Olympic balance beam final

During her time away from the competition, Biles said she was in contact with her family a world away.

>>Related: Photos: Simone Biles, women’s gymnastics team train ahead of Tokyo Olympics

“I was FaceTiming with my family. They had a little watch party at the house. It was my mom, my dad, my brother, my sister-in-law, my godparents. They just wanted to say hi and stuff like that. But given the time change, they’re 14 hours behind, so usually at night, I’ll FaceTime them or in the morning. Almost every day I’ve gotten to talk to them which has been nice and reassuring,” Biles said, according to Us Weekly.

Biles has talked about therapy, Landi said, according to People magazine. The coach also said Biles will also get some vacation.

>>Related: Photos: Simone Biles, US women’s team compete in Olympic gymnastics qualifying

“I think she needs a good break. We’re going to go back to work but I’m happy for her that she gets to go back to her family, her boyfriend, her dog. She’s just going to go home and enjoy,” Landi said, according to People magazine.

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