Japan’s women’s artistic gymnastics team captain Shoko Miyata, 19, has withdrawn from the squad for the Paris Games for violating the team’s code of conduct.
Miyata, who had returned to Japan from the team’s training camp in Monaco, was discovered to have broken the rules by smoking and drinking alcohol, the Japanese Gymnastics Association (JGA) announced on Friday.
The JGA announced at a recent press conference that the women’s team would compete with four athletes instead of the customary five.
JGA stated; “From the bottom of our hearts, we apologize for this.”
The Japanse women gymnasts were seeking to win a team medal for the first time since the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. The squad was accompanied by Mutsumi Harada, Miyata’s coach, and other officials.
Miyata was ready to take charge of a squad made up entirely of youngsters and first-time Olympians after winning the NHK Trophy for the third time in a row, booking her place in Paris in May. Her knowledge and leadership were expected to be crucial in helping this young and inexperienced team overcome the obstacles of their first Olympic expedition.
Instead, she ended up being dropped for violating the code of conduct.
Coach Harada stands up for Miyata
Miyata’s risky behaviour was confirmed by coach Harada, who blamed it on the intense pressure she was under to perform at the top of her game. With tears in his eyes, he said, “She was carrying an enormous burden every day.” “I urge everyone to understand this.”
As a result of gymnastics sensation Simone Biles’ withdrawal from many competitions during the Olympic Games in Tokyo, mental health issues among young athletes came to light. Scheduled to be held from July 27 to August 5, artistic gymnastics is one of the most popular sports at the Summer Games. Its athletes mental and physical fortitude are highlighted on a global scale at the Olympics.