Tears all around as Simone Biles' exit overshadows win for artistic gymnasts formerly known as Russia

The script of the women’s team all around had been torn to shreds, Biles reduced to a sidelined spectator for reasons we didn’t yet know, for reasons we may never truly know

Simone Biles, of the United States, talks to teammates Jordan Chiles, back to camera, Sunisa Lee, and Grace McCallum, left, prior to the uneven bars competition during the artistic gymnastics women's final at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

The contrast was striking, the differences between them standing out far more than their similarities. On one side were the US gymnasts: loud, jovial, apparently relaxed, a cross between a group of sorority girls preparing for a night out and a cluster of cheerleaders focusing ahead of their final routine.

Just down from them, in the blue and white leotards of the Russian Olympic Committee (not, under any circumstances, to be confused with Russia) stood their opponents. They were reserved, serious, speaking quietly with none of the ra-ra let’s-goooo hype that their opponents favoured.