Simone Biles Opens Minds With Her Heart At 2020 Tokyo Olympics
In the Women’s Gymnastics Team Event, the Russian Olympic Committee won a gold medal over Team USA. The Americans were favored slightly despite trailing the ROC in qualifying because of their gold medals in 2012 and 2016.
No doubt, the headline was Simone Biles’s withdrawal from the team final shortly into the competition.
Biles had prepared to perform an “Amanar” vault that involved a roundoff back handspring onto the table followed by two-and-a-half twists. Biles opted for one-and-a-half twists with an atypical hop-forward after landing.
Following the Amanar, Biles consulted with a trainer before exiting the venue.
NBC shared live on the air that Biles had not exited with a physical injury, rather a “mental issue,” per sources:
A Team USA coach said that Simone Biles' exit from the gymnastics team event "is not injury related." Coach said it is a "mental issue she is having," per NBC broadcast.
— Al Butler (@ALaboutSports) July 27, 2021
USA Gymnastics released a statement Biles would not return to finish the team finals for medical reasons:
Official statement just now issued to us from USA Gymnastics regarding Simone: "Simone has withdrawn from the team final competition due to a medical issue. She will be assessed daily to determine medical clearance for future competitions."
— Inside Gymnastics (@InsideGym) July 27, 2021
But Biles reemerged from the back in her sweatsuit, cheering on her teammates in a display of true professionalism:
Find someone who supports you like @Simone_Biles supports her team. #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/kD06R0oNHT
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) July 28, 2021
Afterward, Biles said she was not injured physically and remained ambivalent about her plans to compete in the all-around final. Biles is the defending gold medal winner from the games in Rio de Janeiro in the all-around, vault, and floor exercise events.
“In the back gym, coming in today, it was like fighting all those demons, ‘I have to put my pride aside, I have to do it for the team,’” Biles said per Bolly Inside. “At the end of the day, I have to do what’s right for me and focus on my mental health, and not jeopardize my health and well-being.”
“After the performance that I did (on vault), I thought it was better if I took a step back and let these girls go out there and do the job, and they did just that,” Biles said. “They get a gold medal from me in fighting because they never gave up. They showed the world what they’re capable of.”
Biles has withdrawn from every event in Tokyo, except the balance beam final on Tuesday.
Biles has explained through Instagram how she’s dealing with “twisties,” which make it difficult for her to judge where she is when airborne.
On her IG stories, Simone Biles responds to people who think she “quit” on her team by explaining the “the twisties” she’s been experiencing and what it feels like “not having your mind and body in sync” …. pic.twitter.com/79hN973rkd
— Kimberley A. Martin (@ByKimberleyA) July 30, 2021
A few years ago, Biles pointed out the importance of being tuned in mentally when performing routines like the Amanar. Otherwise, an error risks potential injury.
oop I found it. “don’t bail, or you will literally die” she made the right choice for herself and for her team #SimoneBiles https://t.co/T6a2yrLz8y pic.twitter.com/qPdwKeH9kb
— 𓆉 (@ungodlywests) July 27, 2021
“I don’t trust myself as much as I used to. I don’t know if it’s age. I’m a little bit more nervous when I do gymnastics,” Biles said. “I feel like I’m also not having as much fun, and I know that this Olympic Games, I wanted it to be for myself. I was still doing it for other people, so it hurts my heart that doing what I love has been taken away from me to please other people.”
The 24-year-old gymnast also said she’d felt a tremendous amount of pressure from these Olympics.
Along with swimmer Katie Ledecky, Biles is arguably Team USA’s biggest star in the first summer games post-Michael Phelps retiring.
Kudos to Biles for her self-awareness. She swallowed her own pride and ego not to be a detriment to her teammates, allowing them to win a silver medal.
And Biles’ teammates knew their leader felt emotionally off; the four-time Olympic gold medal winner stepped away to prevent the entire group’s confidence from being shaken.
Simone Biles, relating to gymnasts worldwide here: "They saw it a little bit in practice. Having a little bit of the twisties."
— Emily Giambalvo (@EmilyGiam) July 27, 2021
The twisties. The absolute worst.
Not many athletes would’ve done the same. As recently retired NFL wide receiver Julien Edelman said, he would play until his wheels “finally have fallen off.”
In some cases, does this display of grit benefit the team or purely satisfy your ego?
“Gymnastics isn’t everything at the end of the day,” Biles said. “There’s still more to life than gymnastics, so I’m not too worried about what happened. So I’m just trying to gear up for the next couple of days ahead.”
What’s unfortunate is that Biles felt compelled to defend her actions on social media, retweeting several supportive messages from others.
....did she cost the team a gold medal?🏅or did her decision help her team win a silver medal? 🥈....because if she had a really bad performance her team would not have placed at all.
— Thought Provoker (@Provokingu) July 28, 2021
Simone, you don’t owe anyone an explanation. Let your accomplishments protect you from the critics.
It’s heart-breaking to read and to listen to people question Biles’ toughness, to the extent she reshared a post on Instagram that outlines all the injuries she competed with:
From a gymnast friend regarding Simone Biles 🐐❤️ pic.twitter.com/4eWPIgi4yf
— Brandon Marino (@TheBatMarino) July 27, 2021
To rise above these adversities as a champion multiple times makes her the greatest gymnast of all time.
Competing in the Tokyo Games is a bonus, Simone. You’re already the ‘GOAT.’
What’s a ‘Good’ Teammate?
After stepping away from the team competition on Tuesday, Biles also pulled out of the all-around final Thursday to dedicate more time to improving her physical condition and mindfulness.
Teammate Suni Lee went on to win gold.
But even though she withdrew from the competition, Biles appeared on-hand to cheer on Lee.
Simone Biles is sitting in the first row of the stands behind uneven bars during this all-around final, and she's cheering so loud her voice carries throughout the mostly empty arena.
— Callie Caplan (@CallieCaplan) July 29, 2021
Not just for the Americans, either. Gymnasts from Russia, France, Canada, you name it.
The greatest, most elite competitors know how to pull the best out of those who surround them.
Above all else, they’re good teammates.
That’s Biles.
And who do you think showered Lee with adoration following her gold-medal performance?
Find you a friend, a teammate who will celebrate your personal victories as their own.
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) July 29, 2021
This is from @Simone_Biles’ IG. pic.twitter.com/YE47FP0WpP
The World Shows Love
Numerous athletes across sports on Team USA commended Biles for her bravery:
#TeamUSA stars show support for Simone Biles: pic.twitter.com/ZqbrCVs2PC
— USA TODAY Sports (@usatodaysports) July 29, 2021
But what makes Biles’ courage special is its effect on the rest of the world, transcending beyond sports.
Hugh Jackman chimed in:
I recommend … speaking up. Speaking your truth and asking for help. @naomiosaka and #simonebiles you are both incredible athletes. 2 of the best in your field. But first … you are people who feel. You are an inspiration not just for your generation but mine too. pic.twitter.com/zeVdlY9I8Q
— Hugh Jackman (@RealHughJackman) July 29, 2021
And so did Justin Beiber:
.@justinbieber is showing his support for @Simone_Biles ❤️ pic.twitter.com/aJ8omaHoZE
— iHeartRadio (@iHeartRadio) July 28, 2021
Her actions re-opened a dialogue about the importance of safeguarding one’s mental health; a topic discussed more often in the past 18 months with the COVID-19 pandemic.
As arguably the greatest Olympian of all time, American swimmer Michael Phelps found himself in Biles’ shoes following his record-breaking performance at the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing.
"We're human beings. Nobody is perfect. So yes, it is okay to not be okay."@MichaelPhelps reacts to the news of Simone Biles pulling out of the women's gymnastics team final. #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/Jl2gmi7ORu
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) July 28, 2021
“I hope this is an eye-opening experience. I really do,” Phelps said to NBC’s Mike Tirico. “I hope this is an opportunity for us to jump on board and even to blow this mental health thing more wide open. It is so much bigger than we can ever imagine.”
So thank you, Simone Biles.
It’s not enough to be 100 percent physically to accomplish our goals. To reach our fullest potential, the mind must be at its best too.
Biles Bounces Back
On the last day of the event finals, Biles won a bronze medal in the Women’s Balance Beam competition.
Simone Biles does a double pike dismount, which she hasn’t done in approximately 9 years! What a wonderful performance! https://t.co/r1y7ceKyhG
— Poor Lawyer (@poorlawyer) August 3, 2021
It’s her second bronze medal in this event, but this moment means so much more for Biles and for athletes who’ve wrestled with their mental health.
Her competing alone is a tremendous accomplishment. It’s overcoming adversity.
SIMONE BILES WINS BRONZE IN THE BALANCE BEAM 👏
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 3, 2021
That's her seventh career Olympic medal, tying her with Shannon Miller for the most by any athlete in gymnastics in Team USA history 🐐 pic.twitter.com/fvdiVW6j0Z
“My mental and physical health is above all medals that I could ever win,” Biles said via the New York Post. “So to be clear, to do beam, which I didn’t think I was going to be, just meant the world to be back out there. And I wasn’t expecting to walk away with the medal. I was just going out there doing this for me.”
Biles exits the Tokyo Olympics, tied as the most decorated Olympian in American gymnastics history with seven medals. Even better, she’s won the most gold (4).
And the critics across social media are nowhere to be found.
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Simone Biles Opens Minds With Her Heart At 2020 Tokyo Olympics
In the Women’s Gymnastics Team Event, the Russian Olympic Committee won a gold medal over Team USA. The Americans were favored slightly despite trailing the ROC in qualifying because of their gold medals in 2012 and 2016.
No doubt, the headline was Simone Biles’s withdrawal from the team final shortly into the competition.
Biles had prepared to perform an “Amanar” vault that involved a roundoff back handspring onto the table followed by two-and-a-half twists. Biles opted for one-and-a-half twists with an atypical hop-forward after landing.
Following the Amanar, Biles consulted with a trainer before exiting the venue.
NBC shared live on the air that Biles had not exited with a physical injury, rather a “mental issue,” per sources:
A Team USA coach said that Simone Biles' exit from the gymnastics team event "is not injury related." Coach said it is a "mental issue she is having," per NBC broadcast.
— Al Butler (@ALaboutSports) July 27, 2021
USA Gymnastics released a statement Biles would not return to finish the team finals for medical reasons:
Official statement just now issued to us from USA Gymnastics regarding Simone: "Simone has withdrawn from the team final competition due to a medical issue. She will be assessed daily to determine medical clearance for future competitions."
— Inside Gymnastics (@InsideGym) July 27, 2021
But Biles reemerged from the back in her sweatsuit, cheering on her teammates in a display of true professionalism:
Find someone who supports you like @Simone_Biles supports her team. #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/kD06R0oNHT
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) July 28, 2021
Afterward, Biles said she was not injured physically and remained ambivalent about her plans to compete in the all-around final. Biles is the defending gold medal winner from the games in Rio de Janeiro in the all-around, vault, and floor exercise events.
“In the back gym, coming in today, it was like fighting all those demons, ‘I have to put my pride aside, I have to do it for the team,’” Biles said per Bolly Inside. “At the end of the day, I have to do what’s right for me and focus on my mental health, and not jeopardize my health and well-being.”
“After the performance that I did (on vault), I thought it was better if I took a step back and let these girls go out there and do the job, and they did just that,” Biles said. “They get a gold medal from me in fighting because they never gave up. They showed the world what they’re capable of.”
Biles has withdrawn from every event in Tokyo, except the balance beam final on Tuesday.
Biles has explained through Instagram how she’s dealing with “twisties,” which make it difficult for her to judge where she is when airborne.
On her IG stories, Simone Biles responds to people who think she “quit” on her team by explaining the “the twisties” she’s been experiencing and what it feels like “not having your mind and body in sync” …. pic.twitter.com/79hN973rkd
— Kimberley A. Martin (@ByKimberleyA) July 30, 2021
A few years ago, Biles pointed out the importance of being tuned in mentally when performing routines like the Amanar. Otherwise, an error risks potential injury.
oop I found it. “don’t bail, or you will literally die” she made the right choice for herself and for her team #SimoneBiles https://t.co/T6a2yrLz8y pic.twitter.com/qPdwKeH9kb
— 𓆉 (@ungodlywests) July 27, 2021
“I don’t trust myself as much as I used to. I don’t know if it’s age. I’m a little bit more nervous when I do gymnastics,” Biles said. “I feel like I’m also not having as much fun, and I know that this Olympic Games, I wanted it to be for myself. I was still doing it for other people, so it hurts my heart that doing what I love has been taken away from me to please other people.”
The 24-year-old gymnast also said she’d felt a tremendous amount of pressure from these Olympics.
Along with swimmer Katie Ledecky, Biles is arguably Team USA’s biggest star in the first summer games post-Michael Phelps retiring.
Kudos to Biles for her self-awareness. She swallowed her own pride and ego not to be a detriment to her teammates, allowing them to win a silver medal.
And Biles’ teammates knew their leader felt emotionally off; the four-time Olympic gold medal winner stepped away to prevent the entire group’s confidence from being shaken.
Simone Biles, relating to gymnasts worldwide here: "They saw it a little bit in practice. Having a little bit of the twisties."
— Emily Giambalvo (@EmilyGiam) July 27, 2021
The twisties. The absolute worst.
Not many athletes would’ve done the same. As recently retired NFL wide receiver Julien Edelman said, he would play until his wheels “finally have fallen off.”
In some cases, does this display of grit benefit the team or purely satisfy your ego?
“Gymnastics isn’t everything at the end of the day,” Biles said. “There’s still more to life than gymnastics, so I’m not too worried about what happened. So I’m just trying to gear up for the next couple of days ahead.”
What’s unfortunate is that Biles felt compelled to defend her actions on social media, retweeting several supportive messages from others.
....did she cost the team a gold medal?🏅or did her decision help her team win a silver medal? 🥈....because if she had a really bad performance her team would not have placed at all.
— Thought Provoker (@Provokingu) July 28, 2021
Simone, you don’t owe anyone an explanation. Let your accomplishments protect you from the critics.
It’s heart-breaking to read and to listen to people question Biles’ toughness, to the extent she reshared a post on Instagram that outlines all the injuries she competed with:
From a gymnast friend regarding Simone Biles 🐐❤️ pic.twitter.com/4eWPIgi4yf
— Brandon Marino (@TheBatMarino) July 27, 2021
To rise above these adversities as a champion multiple times makes her the greatest gymnast of all time.
Competing in the Tokyo Games is a bonus, Simone. You’re already the ‘GOAT.’
What’s a ‘Good’ Teammate?
After stepping away from the team competition on Tuesday, Biles also pulled out of the all-around final Thursday to dedicate more time to improving her physical condition and mindfulness.
Teammate Suni Lee went on to win gold.
But even though she withdrew from the competition, Biles appeared on-hand to cheer on Lee.
Simone Biles is sitting in the first row of the stands behind uneven bars during this all-around final, and she's cheering so loud her voice carries throughout the mostly empty arena.
— Callie Caplan (@CallieCaplan) July 29, 2021
Not just for the Americans, either. Gymnasts from Russia, France, Canada, you name it.
The greatest, most elite competitors know how to pull the best out of those who surround them.
Above all else, they’re good teammates.
That’s Biles.
And who do you think showered Lee with adoration following her gold-medal performance?
Find you a friend, a teammate who will celebrate your personal victories as their own.
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) July 29, 2021
This is from @Simone_Biles’ IG. pic.twitter.com/YE47FP0WpP
The World Shows Love
Numerous athletes across sports on Team USA commended Biles for her bravery:
#TeamUSA stars show support for Simone Biles: pic.twitter.com/ZqbrCVs2PC
— USA TODAY Sports (@usatodaysports) July 29, 2021
But what makes Biles’ courage special is its effect on the rest of the world, transcending beyond sports.
Hugh Jackman chimed in:
I recommend … speaking up. Speaking your truth and asking for help. @naomiosaka and #simonebiles you are both incredible athletes. 2 of the best in your field. But first … you are people who feel. You are an inspiration not just for your generation but mine too. pic.twitter.com/zeVdlY9I8Q
— Hugh Jackman (@RealHughJackman) July 29, 2021
And so did Justin Beiber:
.@justinbieber is showing his support for @Simone_Biles ❤️ pic.twitter.com/aJ8omaHoZE
— iHeartRadio (@iHeartRadio) July 28, 2021
Her actions re-opened a dialogue about the importance of safeguarding one’s mental health; a topic discussed more often in the past 18 months with the COVID-19 pandemic.
As arguably the greatest Olympian of all time, American swimmer Michael Phelps found himself in Biles’ shoes following his record-breaking performance at the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing.
"We're human beings. Nobody is perfect. So yes, it is okay to not be okay."@MichaelPhelps reacts to the news of Simone Biles pulling out of the women's gymnastics team final. #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/Jl2gmi7ORu
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) July 28, 2021
“I hope this is an eye-opening experience. I really do,” Phelps said to NBC’s Mike Tirico. “I hope this is an opportunity for us to jump on board and even to blow this mental health thing more wide open. It is so much bigger than we can ever imagine.”
So thank you, Simone Biles.
It’s not enough to be 100 percent physically to accomplish our goals. To reach our fullest potential, the mind must be at its best too.
Biles Bounces Back
On the last day of the event finals, Biles won a bronze medal in the Women’s Balance Beam competition.
Simone Biles does a double pike dismount, which she hasn’t done in approximately 9 years! What a wonderful performance! https://t.co/r1y7ceKyhG
— Poor Lawyer (@poorlawyer) August 3, 2021
It’s her second bronze medal in this event, but this moment means so much more for Biles and for athletes who’ve wrestled with their mental health.
Her competing alone is a tremendous accomplishment. It’s overcoming adversity.
SIMONE BILES WINS BRONZE IN THE BALANCE BEAM 👏
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 3, 2021
That's her seventh career Olympic medal, tying her with Shannon Miller for the most by any athlete in gymnastics in Team USA history 🐐 pic.twitter.com/fvdiVW6j0Z
“My mental and physical health is above all medals that I could ever win,” Biles said via the New York Post. “So to be clear, to do beam, which I didn’t think I was going to be, just meant the world to be back out there. And I wasn’t expecting to walk away with the medal. I was just going out there doing this for me.”
Biles exits the Tokyo Olympics, tied as the most decorated Olympian in American gymnastics history with seven medals. Even better, she’s won the most gold (4).
And the critics across social media are nowhere to be found.