TOKYO — Eighteen-year-old Sunisa Lee didn’t land here this month holding any reasonable expectation that she would win gold in the women’s all-around competition, the most prestigious title in all of gymnastics.
Why would she? Simone Biles was going to be here too, looking to defend her 2016 Olympic crown and riding a win streak that dated back to 2013. That includes five world championships and plenty of recent triumphs over Lee herself.
Simone was Simone. Everyone else pretty much shot for silver.
Well, Biles is now out of the competition. She withdrew on Wednesday so she can continue to concentrate on her mental health, which caused focus issues while trying to compete in Tuesday’s team competition.