Simone Biles Is Helping Gymnasts Reclaim Control Over Their Bodies

Jul 29, 2021 by apost team

Simone Biles is the most decorated gymnast in history. Over the years, people all over the globe have been able to witness her indisputable talents and awe-inspiring skills as she has been a shining star in national and global competition. She has earned herself plenty of Olympic medals and World Championship medals, becoming one of the most dominating athletes in the world. From jaw-dropping stunts and tricks to her determined personality, it's not hard to see why so many people have become a fan of the 24-year-old star. 

Now, the four-time Olympic gold medalist has announced that she will not compete in this Thursday's individual all-around competition at the Tokyo Olympics. According to an emailed statement received by publications such as the New York Times, she is withdrawing from the team finals because of a mental health issue. The U.S. Olympic team has since continued competing without the renowned gymnast, scoring a silver medal in the last event even without their famous frontrunner.

Biles' sudden drop-out has shocked fans and sports enthusiasts all over the world. However, her choice to prioritize her mental health has also opened up an important discussion around athlete's relationships to their own bodies. Competing at a national level as some of the best athletes in the world, Olympians and other high-profile athletes often experience immense pressure resulting in mental health issues. While athletes are often too busy even to get the chance to think about mental health, the global pandemic has made room for new conversations, and athletes like Simon Biles are changing the script.

Read on to learn more about how Simon Biles' choice to prioritize her mental health is changing the ownership athletes have over their own bodies. 

Simone Biles shocked the globe when she announced her decision to pull out of the gymnastics team finals in Tokyo. However, if you had been watching Simone up until that point, her decision is not all that surprising. Not long ago, Biles posted that she felt as though she had "the weight of the world" on her shoulders, and it's actually not an exaggerated statement. Since Biles was just 14 years old, she's been in the public eye, and she hasn't lost a single competition since 2013. The expectations placed on Biles are that she will always pull a history-making performance to secure a win.

On Tuesday, Olympic viewers could sense that something with Biles was off. Even through the screen it was noticeable — after her first vault, she was shaken up, not her usual bubbly self. If we could feel it through the screen, just imagine what it was like for her teammates, who could feel her energy as they were there, or even what it was like for Biles herself. Every single score counts in the final, unlike event qualifications. Every margin of error matters, and second-guessing yourself under such immense pressure is not a good formula for success. Going onto the gymnastics mat without being in the right headspace can be physically dangerous and also affect the morale of the teammates around you. The best thing Biles could have done was step back and ask herself, "OK, what do I do from here?"

Unfortunately, this question is one that few athletes have ever felt comfortable asking. 

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In the last few days, many commentators have been referencing Kerri Strug, a gymnast who won gold during the 1996 Olympics after performing her vault with an ankle injury. The mentality is that athletes should just tough it out, but this is actually extremely unhealthy. This mindset echoes the teachings of toxic masculinity, in which we're told we should just ignore our emotions and not listen to what our bodies are telling us we need. Many are calling Biles' decision heroic, but it's actually rather abusive to push a win-at-all-costs mentality upon athletes who feel pressured to risk serious bodily harm in order to perform. 

At just 24 years old, Biles is one of the greatest gymnasts of all time, and she is the icon of a sport that asks athletes to sacrifice their bodies, minds and entire lives to achieve perfection. With having to perform immaculately, one's entire identity becomes built around striving for perfection. However, what happens when athletes realize that they are actually just human, and therefore inherently imperfect? 

The fact that major athletes such as Naomi Osaka and Michael Phelps are also talking about mental health has changed the cultural conversation on the topic. This definitely created space for Biles' decision, as she may not have been able to make the same choice back in 2016. U.S. Gymnastics back then truly had prioritized winning medals above all else, and Biles has been outspoken about the toxic culture. The past few years, Biles has been able to find her voice, and now she has really decided to use it. She doesn't owe us an explanation; this is her journey, her mind, her sport, her body.

What do you think about Biles changing the narrative and reclaiming her bodily autonomy in a sport that encourages otherwise? Let us know your thoughts, and be sure to pass this on to your loved ones!