MMS Post 4
World-renowned gymnast, Simone Biles, has returned to competition at the Tokyo Olympics after a week of a mental health break and Because of her choice to step down last week, Biles’ received backlash and support from many. Many accused her of being lazy and that in order to be a great olympian, one must be mentally strong. Others admired Biles’ strength for being able to know her own mental and physical limits as an athlete competing at such a high caliber.
Biles now has revealed that she stepped down due to her aunt passing away unexpectedly while she was in Tokyo. Now knowing this, many people have changed their perspective on Biles’ absence last week. This situation further proves the importance of accessible mental health resources. Also, not judging people for the way that they react to certain situations is extremely important.
What most people fail to realize is that Olympic athletes are humans too. They need breaks and time to refresh so that they can compete for the best that they can. Just because they are physically strong, does not mean they are the same mentally. Providing these athletes with strong mental health resources is so important.
As someone who participated in competitive gymnastics for 5 years, I have experienced the mental toll that it can take on gymnasts’ lives. The environment is toxic and there is a large stigma around mental health. You consistently are wondering if your body is too strong, too weak, too small, or too large. The system is based on discipline and routine. Taking breaks for your physical and mental health is not always an option or an easy choice to make. I applaud Simone for her strength to step down, especially as she was able to return and win a bronze medal for the USA on the balance beam. Supporting athlete’s mental health is extremely important and Simone Biles proves the benefit of this.
Article: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/simone-biles-aunt-dies-olympics/
Photo Link: https://www.npr.org/sections/tokyo-olympics-live-updates/2021/07/28/1021683296/in-her-words-what-simone-biles-said-after-her-withdrawal