Everyone was shocked when, after some awkward landings in the team qualifying events and team competition and "just not looking like herself," she withdrew from the team competition (and, later, the individual all-around), later citing mental health concerns (not physical injuries, although in a sport like gymnastics, being off your game by even an inch can lead to serious injury if not paralysis). I won't say I wasn't surprised and disappointed, but I knew there were good reasons for someone as professional, skilled, and decorated as she is to back out.
Much has been written about the withdrawal. Some critics have called Simone "selfish," a "sociopath," "unpatriotic," and "not a team player," although she stayed on the floor to cheer on her teammates who went on to win team silver and stepped aside to let others shine in their moments in the sun (in Simone's absence, her teammate Suni Lee came away with the all-around individual gold and made history in another way for her Hmong community!). Some people have called into question her mental toughness, although to persist for such a long career (at twenty-four, she's won every world championship in which she competed for the last nine years, which is an eternity for the average gymnast) in a sport with as much physical and emotional abuse at the hands of trusted adults already shows her remarkable personal strength. To do so as an often marginalized black female is even more incredible. Some recall (as I do) the punishing vault that Kerri Strug landed in 1996 where she pushed her broken body (ankle) to just perform a little longer for the Gold and have contrasted it with what Simone just did. What shows more courage?
Naomi Osaka, another incredible athlete (and a woman of color) and shy/introverted tennis champion, has also been vocal recently about the importance of emotional health, sitting out Major tournaments because of the incredible pressure and negative effects they (including press conferences) have on her well-being. She recently authored a really good Time Magazine essay describing her position. When mental health is so often stigmatized (especially in the black community), this is truly remarkable.
I am firmly of the opinion that only true champions and "the greatest of all time" could have the courage and confidence to know themselves and their limitations well enough to walk away from their Olympic, athletic, or other lifelong dreams to preserve their bodies and souls. Pastor and writer John Pavlovitz wrote eloquently of Simone, "She is a human being who because of her extraordinary skill sometimes seems more; who places us on tiptoes to watch her defy belief and gravity for a few seconds, who briefly diverts our attention from the terrible gloom life often surrounds us with—but still human. Those of us who daily fight our battles with mental health find ourselves in her today. She is reminding us all that we are worth choosing: over obligation, over role, over expectation, over whatever it is that tells us we are second place. She is saying no to the dangerous myth of toughing it out, and yes to the wisdom of asking for help."
For any woman (or person) who has struggled with the burden and crushing guilt of others' expectations while suffering inside and deeply, it was so liberating to see Simone make such a brave and truly selfless decision. It is not about the glory of the medal count for her. It is about so much more, and she has given us all, no matter what uphill battles we are facing, the permission to say "Enough."
Well done, Simone. You showed us yet again why you are so inspiring and truly the greatest of all time. Thank God that athletes everywhere, people all over the world (especially women), my kids, and I have role models of your maturity, grace, spirit, and sacrifice. Even though you may have not gotten those additional gold medals, you have won in my eyes. We are all humans first.
"Whatever is good for your soul, do that." - Simone Biles, July 2021
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