Simone Biles is undeniably one of the world’s greatest athletes, holding the record as the most decorated gymnast in World Championships history. Despite her headline-making withdrawal from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (held in 2021 due to COVID-19), those Games tied her with Shannon Miller for the most Olympic medals ever won by an American gymnast. In 2022, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Joe Biden. Yet, despite her career successes, Biles has faced numerous challenges.
Her life has been marked by hardships, including a difficult childhood and significant health scares. When the Tokyo Olympics arrived, Biles’ mental health struggles made headlines as she decided to take a two-year break from gymnastics. By focusing on her well-being, she made a strong comeback in 2023, winning gold and setting out to make history at the Paris Olympics by July 2024. Here’s how Simone Biles has transformed since the 2020 Games.
Her awful experience at the previous Olympics in Tokyo
Simone Biles’ experience at the Tokyo Olympics took an unexpected turn when she withdrew from the gymnastics team final after the competition had already started. She was supposed to perform two and a half twists on the vault but lost herself mid-air and only completed one and a half. Realizing something was wrong, she chose to bow out and later decided to forgo the finals of the individual all-around competition. She explained her decision by citing the “twisties,” a condition that causes gymnasts to lose their orientation mid-air, making it dangerous to perform. Despite being labeled a quitter by some, Biles stood by her decision, emphasizing that her mind and body were not in sync.
She took a mental health break
Despite the backlash, Biles took a mental health break. She emphasized the importance of protecting one’s mind and body over merely meeting others’ expectations. Many critics didn’t see it her way, and social media was filled with negative comments. However, Biles anticipated this reaction and admitted to feeling like the world hated her. She stood firm despite the trolls, eventually responding cheekily to critics by flaunting her seven Olympic medals.
