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Japan's Women's Gymnastics Team Captain Has Withdrawn From The Olympics After She Smoked And Drank

The Japanese Gymnastic Association's code of conduct bans both activities for all gymnasts, regardless of their age.

Steph Lu

Steph Lu

— 4 min read
Japan's Women's Gymnastics Team Captain Has Withdrawn From The Olympics After She Smoked And Drank

Japan's women's gymnastics team captain has withdrawn from the Paris Olympics after she smoked and drank alcohol.

Shoko Miyata Japanese Gymnast smoking drinking
Shoko Miyata of Japan prepares to perform her routine during the Women's Artistic Gymnastics Balance Beam Final at the World Gymnastics Championships-Liverpool 2022 at the M&S Bank Arena on November 6th 2022 in Liverpool, England. (Photo credit: Getty)

The Japanese Gymnastics Association (JGA) announced in a press conference on Friday, July 19, that 19-year-old Shoko Miyata would not compete after an investigation found she had smoked and drank alcohol.

Japanese gymnast withdraw olympics
Shoko Miyata of Team Japan competes on Balance Beam during the Women's Team Final on Day Five of the 2023 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships on October 04, 2023 in Antwerp, Belgium. (Photo credit: Getty)

The legal age for both smoking and drinking in Japan is 20.

Japanese Gymnast Shoko Miyata withdraw olympics paris
Shoko Miyata celebrates qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games after the Women's competitions on day three of the Artistic Gymnastics NHK Trophy at Takasaki Arena on May 18, 2024 in Takasaki, Gunma, Japan. (Photo credit: Getty)

However, the Japanese Gymnastic Association's code of conduct bans both activities for all gymnasts, regardless of their age.

Japanese Gymnastic Captain Shoko Miyata beam
Shoko Miyata of Team Japan competes on Balance Beam during the Women's Team Final on Day Five of the 2023 Artistic Gymnastics World Championships on October 04, 2023 in Antwerp, Belgium. (Photo credit: Getty)

The association said that “both parties discussed the matter” and that Miyata had decided to withdraw.

Shoko Miyata trophy japan gymnastics controversy
Winner Shoko Miyata poses with the trophy after the Women's competitions on day three of the Artistic Gymnastics NHK Trophy at Takasaki Arena on May 18, 2024 in Takasaki, Gunma, Japan. (Photo credit: Getty)

Miyata’s coach said that while Miyata’s actions were reckless, he hoped that people would understand she was under intense pressure to perform.

Shoko Miyata japan gymnast controversy beam
Shoko Miyata of Japan performs her routine on the uneven bars during Women's Qualification at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships-Antwerp 2023 at the Antwerp Sportpaleis on October 2nd, 2023 in Antwerp, Belgium. (Photo credit: Getty)

Miyata, who has since arrived back in Japan, has deleted her X account and all her posts on Instagram.

Japanese gymnast captain controversy
Shoko Miyata competes in the Women's Floor Exercise on day three of the Artistic Gymnastics NHK Trophy at Takasaki Arena on May 18, 2024 in Takasaki, Gunma, Japan. (Photo credit: Getty)

Japan will now compete with a team of four women's gymnasts instead of five at the Paris Olympics, which officially begin on Friday, July 26.

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