Pittsburgh-based sports writer and gymnastics authority Will Graves and all-formats colleagues at the Olympics gave AP exclusive glimpses into the saga that led gymnast Simone Biles to drop out of most of her events.
During the first week of the Olympics, Graves and national writer Clare Galofaro used source work — contacts in Biles' camp, USA Gymnastics and others — to keep AP ahead of nearly every development through eight APNewsAlerts, including Biles’ shocking decision to leave the team gymnastics competition after one vault. AP had exclusive video of Biles at her hotel for several days as the world waited to find out if she would compete again, and had live shots of her moving around Tokyo and even going shopping at a pet store. AP also delivered world-class photography of her in action and on the sidelines cheering for her teammates.
Simone Biles competes on the uneven bars during the women’s artistic gymnastic qualifications at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, July 25, 2021.
AP Photo / Gregory Bull
Simone Biles waits to perform on the balance beam during the women’s artistic gymnastic qualifications at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, July 25, 2021.
AP Photo / Natacha Pisarenko
Simone Biles performs her vault during the women’s artistic gymnastics final at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, July 27, 2021. Biles withdrew from the team competition after this vault.
AP Photo / Ashley Landis
Simone Biles lands from the vault during the women’s artistic gymnastics final at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, July 27, 2021. (1 of 3 photos)
AP Photo / Gregory Bull
Simone Biles lands from the vault during the women’s artistic gymnastics final at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, July 27, 2021. (2 of 3 photos)
AP Photo / Gregory Bull
Simone Biles lands from the vault during the women’s artistic gymnastics final at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, July 27, 2021. (3 of 3 photos)
AP Photo / Gregory Bull
Coach Laurent Landi embraces U.S. gymnast Simone Biles after she withdrew from the team final at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, July 27, 2021. Biles, the 24-year-old reigning Olympic gymnastics champion, huddled with a trainer after landing her vault. She then exited the competition floor with the team doctor.
AP Photo / Gregory Bull
after withdrawing from the team final at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, July 27, 2021.
AP Photo / Ashley Landis
Simone Biles talks to teammates, from left, Grace McCallum, Jordan Chiles and Sunisa Lee prior to the uneven bars competition during the women’s artistic gymnastics final at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, July 27, 2021.
AP Photo / Ashley Landis
U.S. gymnast Simone Biles stands on the sidelines after withdrawing from the team final at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, July 27, 2021.
AP Photo / Gregory Bull
Simone Biles, right, and teammate Grace McCallum watch teammates perform during the women’s artistic gymnastics final at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, July 27, 2021.
AP Photo / Ashley Landis
Simone Biles holds the silver medal after the women’s gymnastics artistic women's team final at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, July 27, 2021.
AP Photo / Natacha Pisarenko
Simone Biles speaks with coach Cecile Landi during the warmup prior to the artistic gymnastics balance beam final at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Aug. 3, 2021.
AP Photo / Morry Gash
Simone Biles performs on the balance beam during the women’s artistic gymnastics apparatus final at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Aug. 3, 2021.
AP Photo / Ashley Landis
Simone Biles performs on the balance beam during the women’s artistic gymnastics apparatus final at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Aug. 3, 2021.
AP Photo / Ashley Landis
Simone Biles reacts after competing on the balance beam during the women’s artistic gymnastics apparatus final at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Aug. 3, 2021. Biles won a bronze medal on the beam.
AP Photo / Ashley Landis
Simone Biles smiles as the Chinese team congratulates Guan Chenchen, back to camera, after Guan won the gold medal on the balance beam during the women’s artistic gymnastics final at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Aug. 3, 2021. Biles won the bronze medal.
AP Photo / Natacha Pisarenko
Graves’ connection with Biles precedes the Rio Games and includes U.S. championships, world championships and one-on-one interviews, giving context to the fast-breaking stories coming out of Tokyo. In May, Biles had opened up in a multiformat interview about the pressures that would eventually move her to pull out of most Tokyo Games competition. Graves also produced a comprehensive explainer on “The Twisties,” the disorientation Biles felt as she was airborne, a story Biles herself liked on Twitter.