Japanese Gymnast captain out of Paris Olympics for smoking and drinking in the training camp

Shoko Miyata, the 19-year-old captain of Japan’s Artistic Gymnastics Olympic squad was sent home from the Paris Olympics in violation of the team's code of conduct. She will not participate in the sporting event because of smoking cigarettes and consuming alcohol. In Japan, smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol is illegal until the age of 20. The JGA (Japan Gymnastics Association) contains additional rules prohibiting its athletes from smoking and drinking during team activities even if they are above the age of 20

Read Also: Most Olympic Games without any medal: Monaco, Myanmar and Bangladesh in top 30

The 19-year-old gymnast was struggling with the pressure

"With her confirmation and after discussions on all sides, it has been decided that she will withdraw from the Olympics," Japan Gymnastics Association (JGA) Secretary General Kenji Nishimura said. "We apologize from the bottom of our hearts for this," JGA President Tadashi Fujita said

Mutsumi Harada, Shoko Miyata's coach stated that she was struggling with the "pressure" of competing at the Games. "She was spending her days really burdened with so much pressure. I would implore people to understand that," said Harada. 

Miyata is the Japanese national champion. The Japan team is trying to win a team medal for the first time since the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. However, the women's squad will now compete with four athletes instead of five in the Summer Olympics 2024.

The mental health of the Olympians is increasing day by day. More athletes are opening up about the pressure of competing at the world’s highest level. Simone Biles, the most decorated gymnast in history, left the Olympics in Tokyo due to mental health concerns.