Gymnast Shoko Miyata (19) withdraws from Olympic Games due to smoking and drinking, discovered through “internal reporting” at pre-Olympic training camp[Wide! Scramble](July 22, 2024)

On the 19th, the Japan Gymnastics Association announced that 19-year-old Miyata Shoko (19), a member of the women’s national team for the Paris Olympics, has withdrawn from the team due to smoking and drinking. Miyata is said to have said, “There was a lot of pressure.” ■Haggard… “A lot of pressure” Miyata: “I think I have to lead the team as the ace. I think I should train myself through regular practice.” In February last year, women’s gymnastics ace Miyata spoke about her thoughts on the Paris Olympics. Japan Gymnastics Association Executive Director Nishimura Kenji: “After discussing with the two parties after confirming her identity, we have decided to withdraw from the Olympics.” She won a bronze medal at the 2022 World Championships and her first victory at the All Japan Championships in April this year. As the captain of the national team, there were high hopes that she would win a medal as a team for the first time in 60 years.Managing Director Nishimura said, “We have been able to confirm that smoking occurred between the end of June and July. It was a single instance of smoking in a private setting. The drinking occurred sometime between the end of June and the beginning of July. It occurred inside a room in the National Training Center’s Athlete Village.” On the 15th, an internal report was made in Monaco, where the team was holding a pre-training camp, and information about the smoking and drinking was received by the training headquarters. When the coach checked with Miyata the following day, the 16th, he confirmed that it was true, and so the decision was made for him to return to Japan. After returning to Japan, he appeared exhausted during an interview conducted with his parents present, and said the following: Miyata: “I was under a lot of pressure to achieve my athletic goals, which led me to do something like that.” The Japan national team coach, who also serves as the manager of Miyata’s university, said this. Japan women’s gymnastics coach Mutsumi Harada: “I have nothing to apologize for, but I just want everyone to understand that she was living every day with tremendous pressure and the results she had to achieve. It’s something that can’t be tolerated.” (From “Oshita Yoko Wide! Scramble” broadcast on July 22, 2024)
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