Japanese gymnast Shoko Miyata, the 19-year-old captain of Japan’s artistic gymnastics team, has been withdrawn from the 2024 Paris Olympics after violating the team’s code of conduct by smoking and drinking alcohol. The decision was announced by the Japanese Gymnastics Association on Friday, July 19, 2024.Miyata, a bronze medalist at the 2022 World Championships and considered a strong medal contender for the Paris Games, was sent home from the team’s training camp in Monaco after the incidents were confirmed. According to reports, she was seen smoking in a private setting in Tokyo in late June or early July and also consumed alcohol at a national training center in Japan.The actions violated both the team’s code of conduct and Japanese law, which prohibits smoking and drinking for individuals under 20 years old. Kenji Nishimura, General Secretary of the Japanese Gymnastics Federation, stated, ‘After confirmation and discussions on all sides, it was decided that she would withdraw’ from the Olympics.The incident has cast a shadow over the team’s Olympic prospects. Japan’s women’s artistic gymnastics team will now compete with four athletes instead of five, potentially impacting their chances of winning a medal for the first time since the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Coach Mutsumi Harada attributed Miyata’s behavior to extreme pressure, asking for public understanding.Tadashi Fujita, president of the Japanese Gymnastics Association, emphasized that being a member of the national team requires a high level of responsibility. The federation has stated that they will provide support to Miyata following this incident.
Key points
- 19-year-old Japanese gymnast Shoko Miyata has been withdrawn from the 2024 Paris Olympics for smoking and drinking.
- Miyata’s actions violated both the team’s code of conduct and Japanese law prohibiting smoking and drinking under age 20.
- The incident may impact Japan’s chances of winning a gymnastics medal, as the team will now compete with four athletes instead of five.
- The Japanese Gymnastics Association has promised to provide support to Miyata following the incident.
Contradictions👾While most sources agree that Miyata was caught both smoking and drinking, the TASS report only mentions smoking as the reason for her ban.
