Women are such amazing athletes, and whenever a woman does something remarkable in the world of sports it tends to stand out in everyone’s minds. The Olympics are some of the most watched sporting events in the world, and Simone Biles stands out as one of the best olympians of our generation.
Biles has completely made a name for herself, not only in the world of gymnastics but in the world of sports. She is branded as the “Greatest Of All Time” (GOAT).
With her first appearance at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Biles became the first female U.S. gymnast to win four gold medals at a single games and the first gymnast to win three consecutive world all-around titles.
Biles won gold in team, all-around, vault and floor and won bronze in beam during the 2016 Summer Olympics. She also is deemed to be able to do tricks that no other gymnast can do.
In the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, which happened in 2021, Biles ended up withdrawing from most events due to mental health issues. Everyone all over the U.S. stood with her decision as we all could see her struggling on television.
This choice struck up the conversation as to how mental health can take a real toll on those competing in events or have a lot riding on their backsThe pressure of being an athlete is always high for those expected to be great.
Biles isn’t the only famous Olymian that has experienced mental health issues, Michael Phelps who has won 28 metals, 23 of which were gold medals had dealt with substance and mental health related problems
For outsiders, it can be hard to think about athletes having mental health issues. Exercise is supposed to actually better your mental health, so why are these athletes experiencing this blockage and feeling?
About 35% of professional athletes suffer from mental health problems and a lot of it has to do with the pressure to succeed. They also might experience stress, eating disorders, burnout, anxiety or depression.
Having a downfall in your mental health can also affect your performance, which might be a main reason Biles decided to step down. She probably didn’t want to do anything but her best for her fans.
Having open and honest communication with your athletes as well as acknowledging how they feel can help support them through any issues they would be going through. Making mental health be a priority should be at the top of the list for every coach.
Biles was always such a role model for others, always exceeding expectations, but being strong enough to withdraw from the competition just shows how much of a true role model she is.
This act of courage will be going down in Olympic history, just like everything else Biles has done for that community.
Biles tweeted “The outpouring of love & support I’ve received has made me realize I’m more than my accomplishments and gymnastics which I never truly believed before.” on July 29, 2021. Showing how grateful she was that people understood what she was going through and understood why she had to withdraw.
She did return for the beam section of the Olympics and received bronze. She did receive silver in team for the 2020 Olympics making her record of 7 overall medals throughout her career.
Biles has continued doing what she loved as she went on the “Gold Over America Tour” (GOAT) as she celebrated herself and the U.S gymnastics team. There was a portion during the event where she talked about mental health and discussed ways to seek help.
So once again inspiring the upcoming generations and touching the hearts of all her fans.
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