Simone Biles Doesn't Have To Act Like She's Superhuman

Jul 29, 2021 by apost team

With four gold medals and a record-breaking career, Simone Biles isn’t only the face of gymnastics. Just as Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt were, she has also become the face of the entire U.S. Olympic team — a star athlete who seems unstoppable and superhuman, all at the same time. Ahead of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Biles demonstrated her superhuman athleticism at the 2021 U.S. Classic in Indianapolis, Indiana. There the 24-year-old gymnast won gold, in part for being the first woman in history to successfully execute a dazzling and difficult Yurchenko double pike in vault.

Video of Biles’ stunning and history-making vault performance went viral, putting the athlete in the spotlight just two months before her arrival in Tokyo.

But as most people now know — from sports fanatics to casual viewers — Biles announced her withdrawal from the all-around competition at the Olympics on July 28, citing her mental health. The athlete’s July 28 decision came a day after Biles opted not to compete in the team final after doing one rotation because of her mental state.

During the team event, Biles’ withdrawal ended with the U.S. women taking silver, losing to the Russian Olympic Committee. It was the first time that the U.S. women haven’t won gold in the team event since 2010.

Despite the obvious disappointment that Biles and some fans likely feel, it’s important to remember that while the 24-year-old athlete may be one of the most impressive gymnasts of all time, she is nonetheless human — like any one of us.

"This Olympic Games, I wanted it to be for myself," Biles told reporters following her withdrawal. 

"I came in and felt like I was still doing it for other people," she continued, reportedly fighting back tears. "That just hurts my heart that doing what I love has been kind of taken away from me to please other people."

Biles elaborated on her decision at a news conference that followed Tuesday’s team event.

“I just felt like it would be a little bit better to take a back seat, work on my mindfulness. And I knew that the girls would do an absolutely great job,” Biles explained at the press conference. “And I didn't want to risk the team a medal for kind of my screwups, because they've worked way too hard for that. So I just decided that those girls need to go and do the rest of our competition.”

The athlete also said that she was “shaking” before the competition, noting at the time that the “mental’s not there.” 

While Biles’ admission might be unheard of at an earlier Olympic Games, the 24-year-old gymnast is one of a growing number of star athletes who are ready to admit their vulnerability and put their mental health first. And given the high stakes of performing at the Olympics — during a global pandemic, no less — it’s not surprising that the most decorated and celebrated gymnast of the 21st century felt the immense weight of having to measure up to her performance in Rio.

“You pace yourself, you know the fourth year is the Olympic year,” said Steven Ungerleider, a sports psychologist, in an interview with The New York Times.

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“You psychologically and emotionally and physically gear up and all of a sudden someone pulls the plug and you sit around biting your nails, ‘I have to wait another year.’ A lot of anxiety builds up,” he added.

Biles isn’t the only top athlete at the games who is willing to admit that she’s human and can buckle under pressure like anyone else. Nyjah Huston, an American skateboarder who was an Olympic favorite, posted a heartfelt message on Instagram after he finished in seventh place during the street competition. 

“I feel like I let a lot of people down … I’m human and dealing with all the pressure and expectations really isn’t easy at times,” Huston wrote. 

“Mental health is so important!” the Olympic skateboarder continued.

Biles seems to have echoed Huston’s statement, telling reporters, “At the end of the day, we’re human too so we have to protect our mind and our body rather than just go out there and do what the world wants us to do.”

While there have certainly been some criticisms of Biles' decision, athletes, commentators and organizations alike have also praised the athlete for prioritizing her mental health.

“Working in elite sports like gymnastics comes with unimaginably high levels of pressure, perfectionism, scrutiny, and comparison,” wrote the English mental health charity the Mind on Twitter. “Simone Biles is incredibly brave for speaking out, and highlighting the importance of looking after your mental health.”

Putting her mental health above the spectacle of the Olympic Games shouldn’t be controversial or shameful. After all, Biles isn’t just some national sports symbol or gymnastics superhero. She’s human.

What do you think about Biles’ decision? Give us your take, and pass this story on to friends to get their opinions.