Over the last few years, notable figures from various fields have used their platforms to discuss a topic that is commonly considered taboo: mental health challenges. Athletic figures have played an instrumental role, normalizing mental health obstacles by voicing their journeys and empathizing with millions around the world. The athletes who have spoken out share a central theme. They struggled. They decided to use their voices to help others who might also be struggling in whatever way possible. Through expressing their stories, the athletes convey the message that it is normal for all of us to struggle, regardless of who we are. One figure specifically has stood out to me, that being the GOAT of gymnastics, Simone Biles. In addition to describing her journey, she has taken further action to help others.
Simone Biles is considered by many to be the greatest gymnast of all times with 7 Olympic medals and 25 World Championship medals. The world was shocked when Biles, the first female U.S. gymnast to win four Olympic gold medals at a single Games, withdrew from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics due to the “twisties.” (Twisties are a mental block among gymnasts that causes them to lose their spatial orientation during aerial moves).
After withdrawing from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics to focus on mental well-being, Biles was bashed by the media. Critics called her a quitter and a “national embarrassment,” discussing how Biles’s decision would affect her legacy of being one of the greatest of all time. However, Biles also received support from the media, other athletes, and teammates such as U.S. gymnast Aly Raisman, who acknowledged her bravery in setting a new precedent. Biles’ trailblazing choice raised increased awareness regarding mental health among all athletes.
Raisman criticized USA gymnastics and the US Olympic Committee for a lack of attention to their athletes, stating “Does Simone have the support that she needs? Do other athletes have the support that they need?”
Raisman added, “She added: “It’s a tremendous amount of pressure… I’m completely devastated and I support her so much.”
When she first stepped away from gymnastics, Biles admitted that she wasn’t ready to be a mental health advocate: “I’m still going through my own thing. So how am I supposed to teach people, hey, like, you should do this or this, but everybody goes through that process differently and there are different methods that work for each individual person. So I didn’t really want to, but at least we’re going through it together and I could teach them something in that.”
Biles became increasingly involved with mental health during her 2 year hiatus, devoting large amounts of time to help others. She turned to mental health advocacy and won the Presidential medal of freedom in 2022. Her primary focus was to make people aware that “it’s OK to not be OK and you’re not alone.” Starting in 2021, Biles starred in Gold Over America Tour, a show celebrating and uniting female gymnasts to inspire future athletes, putting mental health at the forefront: “I know a lot of people go through similar things and to know that I’m not just brushing it aside or hiding it under the rug, that I’m bringing that talking and viewpoint to the forefront. We’re human as well, not just athletes. And we have some similarities that you guys might not think about.”
Biles shares that she cares for her mental well-being by relying on those closest to her, including her parents, coaches, and husband. She often goes to therapy and has developed a close bond with her therapist. Her therapist advised her to write in a “Worry Journal,” in which she notes her anxieties. Then, she devotes one hour of the day to worry about what she has written in her journal, typically from 12 to 1pm. Biles states that “Usually by the time 12 or 1 [p.m.] comes, I've already forgotten about all my worries so that kind of is a tool that helps me.” On top of using therapy and a worry journal, Biles uses the mental health app Cerebral, of which she is now the Chief Impact Officer.
“Getting the mental health therapy that I need has been really relieving for me, especially being on the road and on tour. I’m happy to have such a great app to help out with that,” she said.
Biles surprised everybody by returning to competitive gymnastics on August 5th, 2023, impressing everyone watching the U.S. Classic, her first meet in 2 years. Winning with a total score of 59.1, she beat her closest competitor by a total of 5 points and had no falls on any of her events. She closed off her final vault by beautifully executing a Yurchenko double pike, which no other woman has ever landed in competition. According to coaches, Biles still has the capacity to do all her hardest tricks. Biles believes she is in better shape than when she left in 2021.
Although her decision to take a break was controversial, Simone’s successful return indicates that taking the time for self care is necessary and beneficial. She is in the best form of her life and is a mental health advocate forging a path for others.
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