Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images
Japan’s women’s gymnastics team will be without captain Shoko Miyata at the 2024 Olympics due to a code of conduct violation.
The Japanese Gymnastics Association announced on Friday that Miyata, who is 19 years old, has withdrawn from the team after it was determined she violated their code of conduct by smoking and drinking alcohol.
Per Kanako Takahara of the Japan Times, smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol is illegal for persons under the age of 20 in Japan.
Takahara noted the Japanese Gymnastics Association code of conduct “effectively” bans national team athletes from smoking and drinking during team activities even if they are of legal age.
Mutsumi Harada, Miyata’s personal coach, explained she had been feeling “really burdened” with the pressure of competing at the Olympics.
“She was spending her days really burdened with so much pressure,” Harada said. “I would implore people to understand that.”
This was going to be Miyata’s first appearance in the Summer Olympics. She won her third straight NHK Trophy in the all-around competition in May to qualify for the Paris Games. The Kyoto native also won the all-around at the All Japan Championships.
The entire Japan women’s artistic gymnastics team is comprised of first-time Olympians. Kohane Ushioku is the oldest member of the squad at 19. She will be joined by Mana Okamura, Haruka Nakamura and Rina Kishi.
Japan won’t add a fifth athlete to take Miyata’s spot. Aiko Sugihara and Chiaki Hatakeda are alternates for the squad.
The women’s artistic gymnastics schedule at the 2024 Olympics runs from July 27 to Aug. 5. Japan’s only team medal in this event at the Olympics was in 1964 when it won bronze. The team has finished in the top five in three of the past four Olympics.
