Simone Biles Told Her Replacement to ‘Have Fun,’ and She Did

Jade Carey, of the United States, performs on the floor during the artistic gymnastics women's all-around final at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, on July 29, 2021. Ashley Landis/AP Photo

TOKYO—Before American gymnast Jade Carey took the floor for her unexpected performance in the women’s Olympic all-around final on Thursday, she talked to her teammate, Simone Biles, whose exit from the competition meant Carey got the chance to fill her spot.

“She told me, ‘Good luck,’ and go out there, do the best I can and have fun,” Carey said.