Team USA had several noticeable absence during Friday’s Opening Ceremony at Tokyo’s Olympic Stadium, including Simon Biles and the US Gymnastics team, which was concerned about COVID-19 infection, as well as Megan Rapinoe and her US soccer teammates, who were on the way to practice.

Biles explained the US Gymnastics team’s reasoning for missing the opening ceremony on social media.

‘Why couldn’t the USA Gymnasts attend the opening ceremony?’ Biles asked herself in a Instagram post.

‘1) COVID,’ she wrote alongside an emoji.

Her first reason may surprise some, given that Biles is a vocal supporter of vaccinations and the team reportedly has all received the injection. However, alternate Kara Eaker recently tested positive for for COVID-19 after she says she was vaccinated, which may have given her teammates good reason to be cautious.

Team USA had several noticeable absence during Friday's Opening Ceremony at Tokyo's Olympic Stadium, including Simon Biles (left) and the US Gymnastics team, which was concerned about COVID-19 infection

Team USA had several noticeable absence during Friday's Opening Ceremony at Tokyo's Olympic Stadium, including Simon Biles (left) and the US Gymnastics team, which was concerned about COVID-19 infection

Team USA had several noticeable absence during Friday’s Opening Ceremony at Tokyo’s Olympic Stadium, including Simon Biles (left) and the US Gymnastics team, which was concerned about COVID-19 infection

Megan Rapinoe and the US soccer team were also absent from Friday's ceremony in Tokyo

Megan Rapinoe and the US soccer team were also absent from Friday's ceremony in Tokyo

Megan Rapinoe and the US soccer team were also absent from Friday’s ceremony in Tokyo 

Biles explained the US Gymnastics team's reasoning for missing the opening ceremony on social media. 'Why couldn't the USA Gymnasts attend the opening ceremony?' Biles asked herself in a Instagram post. '1) COVID,' she wrote alongside an emoji

Biles explained the US Gymnastics team's reasoning for missing the opening ceremony on social media. 'Why couldn't the USA Gymnasts attend the opening ceremony?' Biles asked herself in a Instagram post. '1) COVID,' she wrote alongside an emoji

Biles explained the US Gymnastics team’s reasoning for missing the opening ceremony on social media. ‘Why couldn’t the USA Gymnasts attend the opening ceremony?’ Biles asked herself in a Instagram post. ‘1) COVID,’ she wrote alongside an emoji

But Biles didn’t stop there.

‘2) The amount of standing is crazy,’ she explained. ‘USA is usually at the end as well because alphabetical.

‘3) We start the following day so it wouldn’t be smart,’ she continued, referencing Saturday’s qualifier for the women.

Lastly, Biles suggested that the US gymnasts never actually attend the Opening Ceremony, but she wasn’t sure.

‘We’ve actually never attended the opening I believe,’ she wrote, adding, ‘Gym fans help me out if that info is wrong.’

Sue Bird and Eddy Alvarez, of the United States of America, carry their country's flag during the opening ceremony in the Olympic Stadium at the 2020 Summer Olympics on Friday. Bird's fiancée Megan Rapinoe missed the event because the US soccer team had a practice session

Sue Bird and Eddy Alvarez, of the United States of America, carry their country's flag during the opening ceremony in the Olympic Stadium at the 2020 Summer Olympics on Friday. Bird's fiancée Megan Rapinoe missed the event because the US soccer team had a practice session

Sue Bird and Eddy Alvarez, of the United States of America, carry their country’s flag during the opening ceremony in the Olympic Stadium at the 2020 Summer Olympics on Friday. Bird’s fiancée Megan Rapinoe missed the event because the US soccer team had a practice session

Sue Bird (L) of the Seattle Storm and soccer player Megan Rapinoe attend the WNBA All-Star Game 2019 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. The two Olympians are engaged to be married

Sue Bird (L) of the Seattle Storm and soccer player Megan Rapinoe attend the WNBA All-Star Game 2019 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. The two Olympians are engaged to be married

Sue Bird (L) of the Seattle Storm and soccer player Megan Rapinoe attend the WNBA All-Star Game 2019 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. The two Olympians are engaged to be married

Team USA alternate Kara Eaker (pictured) recently tested positive for for COVID-19 after she says she was vaccinated, which may have given her teammates good reason to be cautious

Team USA alternate Kara Eaker (pictured) recently tested positive for for COVID-19 after she says she was vaccinated, which may have given her teammates good reason to be cautious

Team USA alternate Kara Eaker (pictured) recently tested positive for for COVID-19 after she says she was vaccinated, which may have given her teammates good reason to be cautious

Rapinoe was in a different situation, given the fact that her fiancee, US basketball star Sue Bird, was one of the flag bearers for the Americans on Friday.

‘Obviously we can’t be there, I don’t know who scheduled us to practice at this time,’ Rapinoe said in a remote interview with NBC as she was being driven to practice aboard the team bus. ‘But everyone from Team USA will be holding it down for us.’

While praising Bird, Rapinoe also poked fun at her own controversial reputation. She previously drew criticism for kneeling in protest of racism during the national anthem. 

‘I feel like I get to share in it, even though I’m not deserving enough to be the flag bearer,’ Rapinoe joked.

The US women’s soccer team ended its 44-match winning streak with a 3-0 loss to rival Sweden in the Olympic opener earlier in the week, but the team can get back on track Saturday against New Zealand.

The Covid Olympics explained in a playbook distributed to athletes and officials

The Covid Olympics explained in a playbook distributed to athletes and officials

The Covid Olympics explained in a playbook distributed to athletes and officials 

This post first appeared on Dailymail.co.uk

You May Also Like

Liam Gallagher and Fiancée Debbie Gwyther Mobbed by Fans in Manchester

On March 21, 2024, Liam Gallagher, the renowned musician and former frontman…

Leicester Fined for Profit and Sustainability Breaches Despite Relegation

Report “Leicester Fined for Profit and Sustainability Breaches Despite Relegation” Leicester City,…

Flight Attendant Uncovers Secret of Plane’s Small Black Triangle

The small black triangle on the wall of an airplane cabin has…

Manuel Akanji withdraws from Switzerland squad due to injury, returning to Man City

Manuel Akanji, a Swiss international and a key player for Manchester City,…