2020 Tokyo Olympics women's gymnastics: U.S., without Simone Biles, takes silver, ROC wins gold in team final

Biles only participated on the vault

The gymnastics team final produced some drama that no one anticipated on Tuesday. American gymnast Simone Biles withdrew from the competition after just a single vault attempt. She pulled out due to a medical issue after being seen talking to trainers following her vault attempt.

With Biles out of the competition, the door was wide open for the Russian Olympic Committee. ROC took advantage of the situation and finished with a team score of 169.528 to win the gold medal. The United States earned a silver medal with a team score of 166.096 and Great Britain took home the bronze medal with a team score of 164.096.

"Physically, I feel good, I'm in shape," Biles told Hoda Kotb on TODAY following her withdrawal. "Emotionally, that kind of varies on the time and moment. Coming to the Olympics and being head star isn't an easy feat, so we're just trying to take it one day at a time and we'll see."

Despite Biles' departure, the United States fought to stay near the top of the standings in the competition.

American Suni Lee had a very strong performance that resulted in an impressive score of 15.400 on the uneven bars. It was the best score of Lee's gymnastics career and a necessary sequence for the Americans. She also excelled on the balance beam, as did Jordan Chiles.

Chiles -- who competed on the uneven bars and balance beam in place of Biles when she wasn't expecting to have to do so -- landed a double pike on her dismount of the balance beam and the United States trailed the Russian Olympic Committee by eight-tenths of a point heading into the floor exercise.

But the floor exercise wasn't kind to the Americans.

Grace McCallum and Chiles both landed out of bounds during their routines. In addition, Chiles fell during one of her attempts, which proved to be the nail in the coffin for the United States' hopes of winning gold.

By taking silver, the United States missed out on a chance at making history. The United States had a shot at winning their third consecutive all-around gold medal after being victorious at the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics. If the Americans had won gold, they would've been the first squad to win three straight gold medals in the event since the Soviet Union accomplished the feat from 1952 to 1960.

[Jul 27, 2021 at 8:54 am ET · Chris Bengel]

The Russian Olympic Committee wins the gold medal with a team score of 169.528. The United States will take the silver medal in the absence of Simone Biles, which is still impressive. Great Britain came from behind to earn the bronze medal.

[Jul 27, 2021 at 8:48 am ET · Chris Bengel]

Suni Lee wraps up an incredible performance in the team finals with a score of 13.666. She simply did everything that she could to keep the United States in this competition. The United States may not earn the gold medal, but this group has to be proud of how they competed after losing Simone Biles.

[Jul 27, 2021 at 8:38 am ET · Chris Bengel]

Jordan Chiles lands out of bounds and falls on a later attempt during her floor exercise routine. That might be the nail in the coffin for the United States in terms of their chances of winning the gold medal.

[Jul 27, 2021 at 8:32 am ET · Chris Bengel]

Grace McCallum earns a 13.500 score for her floor exercise return. Landing out of bounds early in her routine really hurt her score.

[Jul 27, 2021 at 8:28 am ET · Chris Bengel]

Grace McCallum steps out of bounds in her floor exercise routine. That's something that the United States can't afford. The Americans need to be perfect the rest of the way.

[Jul 27, 2021 at 8:22 am ET · Chris Bengel]

United States trails the Russian Olympic Committee by eight-tenths of a point heading into the floor exercise. It's coming down to the final event to determine who's taking home the gold medal.

[Jul 27, 2021 at 8:19 am ET · Chris Bengel]

Jordan Chiles lands a double pike on the demount of the balance beam. Impressive routine there from Chiles as the United States needs to keep the pressure on the Russian Olympic Committee. 

[Jul 27, 2021 at 8:13 am ET · Chris Bengel]

The United States has overtaken the Russian Olympic Committee by one-tenth of a point in the team finals. We have a race to the finish on our hands!

[Jul 27, 2021 at 8:10 am ET · Chris Bengel]

Suni Lee is doing everything she can to keep the United States in the team finals. Impressive performance on the balance beam despite an early hiccup.

[Jul 27, 2021 at 7:58 am ET · Chris Bengel]

USA Gymnastics announces that Simone Biles withdrew from the team competition due to a medical issue.

[Jul 27, 2021 at 7:46 am ET · Chris Bengel]

Simone Biles has withdrawn from the team competition due to a "mental issue." Biles' withdrawal is not injury related.

[Jul 27, 2021 at 7:42 am ET · Chris Bengel]

Suni Lee receives a score of 15.400 and that's the highest score of any gymnast in the Tokyo Olympics thus far. In addition, it's the best score of Lee's career. Huge sequence for the United States there.

[Jul 27, 2021 at 7:39 am ET · Chris Bengel]

Suni Lee puts together a sensational performance in the uneven bars. Absolutely necessary routine that could draw the United States closer to the Russian Olympic Committee at the top of the standings.

[Jul 27, 2021 at 7:28 am ET · Chris Bengel]

Simone Biles has pulled out of the entire team finals. No word as to why, but obviously injury related. Absolutely shocking development from Tokyo.

[Jul 27, 2021 at 7:25 am ET · Chris Bengel]

Simone Biles is out of the uneven bars event. Jordan Chiles is slated to participate in Biles' place. Biles hugged her teammates before taking off her grips.

[Jul 27, 2021 at 7:18 am ET · Chris Bengel]

Team USA remains behind the Russian Olympic Committee after the vault event. The vault event was thought to be the United States' strongest event.

[Jul 27, 2021 at 7:14 am ET · Chris Bengel]

According to USA Today, Simone Biles is leaving the floor with a trainer. Definitely something to monitor.

[Jul 27, 2021 at 7:03 am ET · Chris Bengel]

Simone Biles had a little bit of an error in her first vault attempt. Biles earns a 13.766 score on her first attempt, which is a very big deal. After all, Biles is arguably the best vaulter in the entire world.

[Jul 27, 2021 at 7:02 am ET · Chris Bengel]

United States gymnast Jordan Chiles currently has the highest vault score with 14.666. Simone Biles up next.

[Jul 27, 2021 at 6:53 am ET · Chris Bengel]

The United States is going for their third consecutive all-around gold medal after being victorious at the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics. If the American win gold, they would be the first country to win three straight gold medals in the event since the Soviet Union accomplished the feat from 1952 to 1960.