Japan Ace Gymnast Shoko Miyata Leaves National Team; Violated Rules by Drinking, Smoking (UPDATE1)

The Yomiuri Shimbun

14:11 JST, July 19, 2024

Shoko Miyata, the captain of Japan’s women’s gymnastics team for the Paris Olympics, has left the national team, according to a source from Japanese Olympic team.

The Japan Gymnastics Association announced Friday that Miyata had been smoking and drinking alcohol in the accommodation building of the National Training Center in Tokyo during June and July, which it determined the violation of the Japan Olympic Committee’s regulations and the association’s code of conduct. Miyata will not participate in the Paris Olympic events, the association said.

The gymnastics team is currently in Monaco for final training in preparation for the Games.

The 19-year-old gymnast won the bronze medal in the balance beam event at the 2022 World Championships and achieved her third consecutive victory at the NHK Trophy in May. She was expected to be the national team’s ace at the Paris Games.