Simone Biles’ Strength During Tokyo Debacle Continues to Shift Gymnasts’ Views on Mental Health: ‘We Are Humans’
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Simone Biles’ Strength During Tokyo Debacle Continues to Shift Gymnasts’ Views on Mental Health: ‘We Are Humans’
30 Olympic and World Championship medals sitting pretty in your trophy case should pretty much lock in your GOAT status, right? Well, Simone Biles doesn’t need to prove anything to anyone, having achieved a list of accomplishments that would be hard to replicate anytime soon. And yet, the scenes that transpired in Tokyo three years ago were difficult for all, to sit through. That taught her a lesson in mental health. And her teammates are learning about it still.
At the 2021 Summer Olympics, Simone decimated all competition in the qualification round. Only to succumb to her own inner device in the finals. Standing in front of the vault apparatus, considering her strong suit, Biles couldn’t stop shaking. She pulled out of the team and four other final events, citing “the Twisties” and her coach and family told her to take care of herself first. And she’s now telling the same to her colleagues.
how Simone Biles showed them why taking mental health seriously could save your life. Remembering Biles’ ordeal in the Japanese capital, the Olympians also lauded the former’s determination to bring more exposure to the subject. They were joined by Canada’s most decorated gymnast ever Ellie Black, who also stated the same. “Having Simone come forward and use her platform in Tokyo I think was really powerful,” Black was quoted saying in the article.
“As athletes, I think we’re just looked at as kind of like machines or you can handle anything or you should be able to handle anything,” Black said further, underscoring the immense pressure elite athletes are often under. But taking a page from Biles’ book, the four-time Olympian noted this pressure is exactly why it’s crucial to understand their situation and give some wriggle room.
“We work really, really hard, but we are humans and we need to take care of ourselves first and foremost,” Black reiterates. After After the Tokyo Games, many slammed the Houston native for quitting. They felt betrayed and the collective ruckus prompted Biles to go on hiatus. But she kept her composure and made her triumphant return at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Bagging three gold medals, she showed the world why she’s the best that there ever was. But her own experience never faded. Sharing it with others has helped them all to find balance. And now they’re on a mission to spread golden magic together.
Black, Chiles, and others are spending nights on the road along with Simone as the group travels across the USA for the second edition of the Gold Over America Tour. Returning after three years, the pop-style GOAT started its run almost a month ago from Oceanside, California, and gaining more momentum every day. Orlando, Florida, will be its 18th halt on October 12, and fans expect another marvelous show from Biles and Co. With the 7x Olympic gold medals in their ranks, the GOAT gymnasts are displaying their skills in all its glory. However, this isn’t the only one she’s helped along the way.
In 2018, Jordan Chiles was at her lowest. Being dropped from the national team, Chiles contemplated leaving gymnastics altogether. “In 2018, Jordan was facing on her own, like, we didn’t know Jordan wasn’t really going to gym ’cause she’s old enough to drive herself, you know, all of those things,” Chiles’ mom recently revealed in a podcast.
But Simone Biles came to the rescue. She got the future UCLA student to Texas with her to train at the World Champions Center. And now, Chiles has two Olympic and three World Championships medals under her belt. Friendship goals, right? Share your take on mental health and why it’s more important to talk about it now than before with a comment!
