Japanese gymnast Shoko Miyata withdraws from Olympic Games after smoking and drinking alcohol
The legal smoking and drinking age in Japan is 20 and the JGA’s code of conduct prohibits gymnasts from doing either during team activities, regardless of age. Miyata is 19.
“Both parties discussed the matter and decided to withdraw [Miyata] from the Olympics,” JGA executive director Kenji Nishimura told reporters at a press conference on July 19.
Nishimura said that one incident of smoking took place “in a private place at a certain location in Tokyo” and a separate incident of drinking took place “in a room in the Athlete Village of the National Training Center.”
“She engaged in smoking and drinking due to numerous pressures from the competitive targets that had been set,” Nishimura added.
Miyata, who won bronze on the balance beam at the 2022 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, was due to captain Japan’s women’s team of debut Olympians.
CNN is trying to reach Miyata for comment. She has not publicly commented and appears to have deleted her social media accounts.
The country’s women’s team is trying to win its first team medal since the 1964 Tokyo Games.
“We would like to apologize from the bottom of our hearts for the great inconvenience and worry this has caused you,” JGA chief Tadashi Fujita said. “We are truly sorry.
“It’s not just Ms. Miyata’s responsibility. I believe the entire Gymnastics Association is responsible. Ms. Miyata must atone for the crime she committed, though, we will do our utmost to support her, so she can take a new step toward the future.”
Despite her love for sports, Miyata's participation in the upcoming Olympic games is uncertain due to her involvement in sport-prohibited activities. The media pressure and high expectations in her sport apparently led to her choices.
