Simone Biles made headlines when she announced her intention to withdraw from the gymnastics team final at the Tokyo Olympics.
The USA Gymnastics team later confirmed it was due to a "medical issue."
Biles herself explained her mental health "is not there" to be in the right headspace for competition right now. She announced Wednesday she was also withdrawing from the individual all-around finals.
Many came out in support of the medal winning athlete.
Simone Biles is an inspiration. More power to the young queen.— Bolu Babalola (@Bolu Babalola) 1627463259
Simone Biles already won. #goat— Ben O'Keefe (he/him) (@Ben O'Keefe (he/him)) 1627473509
I love @Simone_Biles . Pass it on\u2026https://twitter.com/insidegym/status/1419989738971439106\u00a0\u2026— Rex Chapman\ud83c\udfc7\ud83c\udffc (@Rex Chapman\ud83c\udfc7\ud83c\udffc) 1627391355
I can't imagine the pressure Simone has been feeling. Sending her SO much love. It easy to forget she's still human. WE LOVE YOU.— Adam Rippon (@Adam Rippon) 1627392088
Dear @Simone_Biles As always, you nailed this with rare perfection. You reminded us all to prioritize our mental health, if that slips away, nothing can work as it should. Thank you for all you have given us. It has been exhilarating!— Mia Farrow (@Mia Farrow) 1627471818
I support Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka\u2014 their right to choose what\u2019s best for them is courageous and respectable. And if someone has a problem with it (Megyn Kelly), I have a good indica to recommend, it\u2019ll calm you down.https://twitter.com/time/status/1420069864115421189\u00a0\u2026— Chelsea Handler (@Chelsea Handler) 1627473156
The 24-year-old performed a vault with fewer twists than normal and a big correction earning her the lowest score of the first rotation and one of the lowest of her career.
After her performance, she left the field close to tears. Shortly after came the announcement Biles would not compete in the team final.
Biles explained she bowed out to avoid negatively impacting her teammates.
She said:
"I knew that the girls would do an absolutely great job, and I didn't want to risk the team a medal for 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 the competition."
Biles' departure stunned the world, but despite her physical feats, it's important to remember she is human too. And humans need mental healthcare as well as physical healthcare.
Many turned the gymnast's move into an important statement about the state of mental healthcare.
Uhhhh\u2026 some coach needs to be put ON NOTICE. \n\nMental health is health, coach. \n\nGet your very think head out of (what I assume is) your very toned ass. \n\n#SimoneBiles #Olympicshttps://twitter.com/ALaboutSports/status/1419987613755314179\u00a0\u2026— katie anderson (@katie anderson) 1627417100
Simone Biles probably won\u2019t see your tweets about her \u2018making excuses\u2019 or \u2018playing the mental health card\u2019, but your friends who struggle with their mental health will, and it will hurt them.— Cara Lisette (@Cara Lisette) 1627471584
It is simple.\n\nThere is no health without mental health.\n\nWe are with you, #SimoneBiles— Rory O'Connor (@Rory O'Connor) 1627465846
Biles is the first woman gymnast since 1992 to qualify for all six Olympic finals and is so impressive on the mat she's credited with the invention of the Yurchenko double pike as well as other signature moves. Judges are criticized for possibly underscoring her to prevent other gymnasts from performing her difficult and dangerous moves.
And yet, to some, this is not enough to justify the mental toll Biles takes performing and being in the spotlight.
People like Piers Morgan and Charlie Kirk tried to criticize Biles for her decision, but quickly got shut down.
B4 you get mad at this, remember: Charlie Kirk has never achieved anything in life. He\u2019s uneducated, mediocre & has never sacrificed his physical & mental health for a single thing, person or country. He isn\u2019t a serious person\n\nSome people just HATE Black people. It\u2019s that simplehttps://twitter.com/jasonscampbell/status/1420122875323985920\u00a0\u2026— Michael Harriot (@Michael Harriot) 1627440591
I'd put money on it that there's not a single child in the country who would tell you that when they grow up, they want to be like Piers Morgan.https://twitter.com/brianmoore666/status/1420113732470980612\u00a0\u2026— David Harewood (@David Harewood) 1627426347
Piers Morgan having a go at the mental toughness of top athletes again\n\nAlso Piers Morgan:pic.twitter.com/2DiIYzo0SB— dave \u2744\ufe0f \ud83e\udd55 \ud83e\uddfb (@dave \u2744\ufe0f \ud83e\udd55 \ud83e\uddfb) 1627453224
If you're getting upset and angry over Simone Biles the problem is with you, not her.— Eyes on the Right (@Eyes on the Right) 1627426419
At the time of writing, it was confirmed Biles would also not be competing in the individual all-around final.
She has said she will decide "one day at a time" about how she plans to handle the remaining events.
