Mental health is something that used to be so stigmatized in society, but several celebrities have defied this stigma and spoken out about their struggles with mental health on a large stage. One of the most recent examples of this is Simone Biles at the 2021 Tokyo Summer Olympics.

For those who are not familiar with the situation, on July 27, Day 4 of the Olympic games, Simone Biles had a shaky vault performance, which is uncharacteristic of the greatest gymnast of all time. She had apparently planned to do a 2.5 twist vault dismount, but only completed 1.5 with a shaky landing. After exiting with a team doctor, she returned with a wrapped right leg and it was announced that she was withdrawing from the competition due to a medical issue. It was later revealed that it was not injury-related, but a mental struggle- what gymnasts call the twisties. The twisties are essentially when gymnasts get lost in the air while performing and are not aware where they are in space. Space and air awareness are very important for gymnastics and many gymnasts like Biles have exceptional bodily awareness. To get the twisties can be dangerous because gymnasts will not know where or when to land and can land wrong, even on their head, which can cause injuries anywhere from a twisted ankle to paralysis.

Biles’ withdrawal was a huge shock to the nation that was excited to see her perform but resparked an important conversation about mental health. Biles is not the first athlete to speak out about mental health or even the first athlete to drop out of a competition due to it, but this event happened amidst the pandemic where mental health was already a global conversation. According to Time Magazine, “About 30% of people aged 18 to 25 years report having a diagnosis of a mental illness in the preceding year, which means this age group already represents a higher risk group.” These are the same ages as the Olympians and many young adults who consume the Olympic media. This number was heightened by Covid and the stress that came with online school, job layoffs, high market prices, and diminished social lives. Having someone so public facing such high expectations choose her mental health really emphasized these conversations, particularly among this age group where it is especially important.

The Tokyo Olympics in particular had a giant focus on mental health before Biles pulled out. Time Magazine introduces Jessica Bartley, a psychologist and the director of mental health services for the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, who attested that “her team received about 10 requests daily during the Games to support athletes’ mental health needs.” These athletes are under so much pressure to perform perfectly in order to represent their country well. They have worked tireless hours, but many of the struggles they face are hidden from the public in order to maintain this image of effortless talent. With Biles’ courageous decision, mental health became a “defining theme of the Games. And her courageous choice, amplified by the global spotlight of the Games, created a rare opportunity for moving the discussion from raising awareness to positive action” (Time). Not only did Biles change the game for other athletes in the Games to recognize that their struggles were valid, she validated the feelings of millions of people across the globe.

She was able to put her pride aside and do what was best for her health and safety, which is much easier said than done. She proved that her mental health was her top priority, even above a global competition that she worked tirelessly for. This was definitely not an easy decision for her, but it was the only decision. Her courage challenged the thoughts of even the average American. I mean if Simone Biles can put her mental health above the Olympic Games, why shouldn’t I be putting my mental health above one silly little assignment? If her mental health is that important to her, why shouldn’t my mental health be that important to me?

Biles added a whole new layer of depth to the games. She showed that these athletes are human. They feel this immense pressure to be the best but at the end of the day they are human like the rest of us, and are often times in their teens or early 20s. As someone on the older end of the spectrum and as one of the most well known names in the Games, Biles was a sort of role model to other athletes and her decision had a real weight in showing that mental health needs to be talked about in order for these struggles to be overcome.

Biles has been an advocate for therapy and mental health in the past, but this event was such a large decision that it brought more attention to it. Biles is also notably a survivor of the Larry Nassar sex abuse scandal, which also illuminates how many athletes struggle from various types of mental illness.

Many athletes spoke out in support of Biles’ decision, which brought more media attention to it. Other big names who have advocated for their mental health in the past, including Michael Phelps, Naomi Osaka, and Aly Raisman have attested to the struggles they have faced as professional athletes and the attention that must be dedicated to the mental health of athletes and individuals as a whole. President Joe Biden even applauded Simone Biles’ decision, showing the impact of her bravery on even the world’s biggest leaders.

Mental health and Simone Biles’ decision was important to the civic because of the effect it has and is continuing to have today, despite being 2.5 years ago. With her choice, “Simone Biles touched a nerve far beyond athletes, releasing a seemingly pent-up reservoir in the broader culture…Google searches related to mental health on the day Biles pulled out hit their highest peak in two months” (Time). She made the Olympics about so much more than just sports. She opened up a whole new world for athletes and viewers to weigh the importance of their health in their own lives, to seek the betterment of their mentality. This was not just a shocking, fleeting moment; it was a cultural reset that has left a lasting change.

We commend you, Simone Biles.

Sources:

The Tokyo Olympics Changed the Conversation About Mental Health | TIME

Simone Biles Mental Health Message is Game-Changing | Turnbridge

What Happened to Simone Biles? Why Did The Gymnast Pull Out of The Olympics? (newsweek.com)