Simone Biles is a part of a burgeoning wave of athletes who are defying the notions of their sport to prioritize their mental wellness. In combat to insensitive responses to the gymnastic superstar’s decision to exit gymnastic competitions at the Tokyo Olympics this week, a chorus of support has rallied around her valiant decision. In response to the outpour, Biles shares how the encouragement has assuaged such a contentious moment.
the outpouring love & support I’ve received has made me realize I’m more than my accomplishments and gymnastics which I never truly believed before. 🤍
— Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) July 29, 2021
In a post to Twitter on Wednesday, the 24-year-old wrote, “The outpouring love & support I’ve received has made me realize I’m more than my accomplishments and gymnastics which I never truly believed before.”
Her remarks are indicative of how often we solely fasten the value of athletes to their capabilities. In a now-deleted tweet, Texas Deputy Attorney General Reitz quote-tweeted video of Kerri Strug’s 1996 Olympic performance on an injured ankle. Echoing the vituperative sentiments of many spectators in the wake of Biles’ withdrawals, Retz wrote, “Contrast this with our selfish, childish national embarrassment, Simone Biles.”
The Olympic champion revealed to reporters that her shocking decision, which followed an uncharacteristic vault landing, was based on her mental space. “I just never felt like this going into a competition before. I tried to go out here and have fun, and warm up in the back went a little bit better, but once I came out here I was like, ‘No, mental is not there,’” she said. She continued, “I didn’t want to do something silly out there and get injured. So I thought it was best if these girls took over and did the rest of the job, which they absolutely did.”
After further medical evaluation, Simone Biles has withdrawn from the final individual all-around competition. We wholeheartedly support Simone’s decision and applaud her bravery in prioritizing her well-being. Her courage shows, yet again, why she is a role model for so many. pic.twitter.com/6ILdtSQF7o
— USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) July 28, 2021
International fans are eyeing her four final upcoming events that are set the begin on Monday. As of late, there has been no official statement on where she geared to participate in the events. On Wednesday, USA Gymnastics said in a statement that Biles will be “evaluated daily to determine whether or not to participate in next week’s individual event finals.” The statement continued, “We wholeheartedly support Simone’s decision and applaud her bravery in prioritizing her well-being. Her courage shows, yet again, why she is a role model for so many.”
