Simone Biles and US Gymnastics squad, Megan Rapinoe and US soccer team miss ...

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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.