Simone Biles and the US Gymnastics team skip out on Opening Ceremony over COVID-19 fears as soccer star Megan Rapinoe misses flag-bearer fiancée Sue Bird leading Team USA due to practice session

• Team USA had several noticeable absence during Friday's Opening Ceremony at Tokyo's Olympic Stadium, including Simon Biles and the US Gymnastics team
• Biles explained the US Gymnastics team's reasoning for missing the opening ceremony on social media by mentioning COVID-19 and tomorrow's qualifier 
• She also said there's too much standing around at the event, which lasted hours 
• Megan Rapinoe was in a different situation, given the fact that her fiancee, US basketball star Sue Bird, was one of the flag bearers for the Americans on Friday
• Rapinoe, a member of the US soccer team, missed the event for Friday's practice

Team USA had several noticeable absence during Friday's Opening Ceremony at Tokyo's Olympic Stadium, including Simon Biles and the US Gymnastics team, which was concerned about COVID-19 infection, as well as Megan Rapinoe and her US soccer teammates, who were on the way to practice.

Biles explained the US Gymnastics team's reasoning for missing the opening ceremony on social media.

'Why couldn't the USA Gymnasts attend the opening ceremony?' Biles asked herself in a Instagram post.

'1) COVID,' she wrote alongside an emoji.

Her first reason may surprise some, given that Biles is a vocal supporter of vaccinations and the team reportedly has all received the injection. However, alternate Kara Eaker recently tested positive for for COVID-19 after she says she was vaccinated, which may have given her teammates good reason to be cautious.

But Biles didn't stop there.

'2) The amount of standing is crazy,' she explained. 'USA is usually at the end as well because alphabetical.

'3) We start the following day so it wouldn't be smart,' she continued, referencing Saturday's qualifier for the women.

Lastly, Biles suggested that the US gymnasts never actually attend the Opening Ceremony, but she wasn't sure.

'We've actually never attended the opening I believe,' she wrote, adding, 'Gym fans help me out if that info is wrong.'

Rapinoe was in a different situation, given the fact that her fiancee, US basketball star Sue Bird, was one of the flag bearers for the Americans on Friday.

'Obviously we can't be there, I don't know who scheduled us to practice at this time,' Rapinoe said in a remote interview with NBC as she was being driven to practice aboard the team bus. 'But everyone from Team USA will be holding it down for us.'

While praising Bird, Rapinoe also poked fun at her own controversial reputation. She previously drew criticism for kneeling in protest of racism during the national anthem. 

'I feel like I get to share in it, even though I'm not deserving enough to be the flag bearer,' Rapinoe joked.

The US women's soccer team ended its 44-match winning streak with a 3-0 loss to rival Sweden in the Olympic opener earlier in the week, but the team can get back on track Saturday against New Zealand.