Tokyo Olympics while you were sleeping: Simone Biles thanks supporters, US swimmers pile up medals

USA TODAY Sports
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The biggest story of the Tokyo Olympics remains Simone Biles withdrawing from the women's team and all-around gymnastics competitions.

Hours before Thursday's all-around started without her, Biles took to Twitter to thank people for the "love and support" she has received since USA Gymnastics announced she would not compete so she can focus on her mental health.

Biles said the reaction – which included Olympic legend Michael Phelps saying he could relate to her sentiments and support from former gymnast Dominique Moceanu – made her "realize I’m more than my accomplishments and gymnastics which I never truly believed before."

At the all-around competition, fellow American Suni Lee took home the gold medal with a fantastic floor routine that catapulted her into first place in the final rotation.

Here are some of the other notable things you missed Thursday in Tokyo while you were sleeping:

Simone Biles walks off the floor after the women's team final.
Simone Biles walks off the floor after the women's team final.

Another banner day in the pool

Swimmers continued to pile up the medals for Team USA on Thursday.

Two golds came in as star Caeleb Dressel secured his first individual medal of these Games with an Olympic record time in the men's 100 freestyle. More surprising was the gold medal captured by Bobby Finke thanks to a dramatic comeback in the men's 800-meter freestyle.

Katie Ledecky helped Team USA secure a silver medal with a strong swim from the anchor spot in the women's 4x200-meter freestyle relay. The United States also got two medals in the women's 200-meter butterfly as Regan Smith and Hali Flickinger claimed silver and bronze, respectively.

American track and field star tests positive for COVID-19

Team USA star Sam Kendricks, the reigning world champion in the pole vault, is out of the Olympics after testing positive for COVID-19.

"Sam is an incredible and accomplished member of Team USA and his presence will be missed," the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee said in a statement.

Kendricks' positive test, with the track and field competition in Tokyo slated to start Friday, resulted in the isolation of three Australian track and field who were reported to be close contacts.

German coach sent home for racist comments

German cycling coach Patrick Moster is being sent home from the Tokyo Olympics a day after he was caught on camera making racist comments during the men's time trial.

Moster used a racial slur that was heard on the TV broadcast as he urged on German rider Nikias Arndt during the race as Arndt rode behind Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier of the North African country of Eritrea and Azzedine Lagab of Algeria.

Other must-read stories from Thursday:

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Olympics update: Simone Biles thankful for support; More gold for USA