During a press conference following her win in the women’s all-around finals, Simone Biles revealed that her day began with a session with her therapist. Biles has openly discussed her relationship with therapy in recent years. In a 2021 interview with TODAY’s Hoda Kotb, she reflected on her struggles with mental health, stating, “I don’t think people understand the magnitude of what I go through. But for so many years to go through everything that I’ve gone through having a front, I’m proud of myself.”
Simone Biles' Journey Through Mental Health
Opening USA's final with a flawless Cheng vault, Biles demonstrated that she had conquered the nightmares of the Tokyo Olympics, where a team event mishap triggered the 'Twisties' and led to her withdrawal from the competition. This time, the 27-year-old gymnast led her team, comprising Jordan Chiles, Suni Lee, Jade Carey, and Hezly Rivera, to win the USA’s fourth-ever gymnastics women’s team gold medal at the Bercy Arena in Paris.
For an athlete of Biles' calibre, this gold medal was her first in eight years, with the lows of Tokyo 2021 wedged between her triumphs at the 2016 Rio Olympics and her current success in Paris. As Biles secured her second team gold medal, surpassing Shannon Miller as the most decorated American woman gymnast, she indicated that she had moved past the lows of the Tokyo Olympics.
Biles had withdrawn mid-way through the Tokyo Games due to mental health concerns after experiencing the 'Twisties,' a psychological condition where gymnasts lose sync between their body and mind.
Biles received widespread support for her decision to withdraw, explaining the terrifying sensation on social media. “Literally can not tell up from down. It’s the craziest feeling ever. Not having an inch of control over your body,” she wrote on Instagram. Despite her team clinching the silver medal in her absence, Biles' cautious return to the balance beam, earning a bronze, was a testament to her resilience.
Therapy as the Cornerstone of Her Comeback
Therapy has been central to Biles’ comeback, and it was no different on Tuesday. “At the beginning of the day, I started off with therapy this morning. That was super exciting,” Biles told Olympics.com. “I told my therapist I was feeling calm and ready.” Opening her team’s final with a spotless Cheng vault, Biles confirmed that she had buried the Tokyo nightmares, completing the routine without any flashbacks or anxiety. “After I finished vault, I was relieved. I was like, ‘Phew!’ because at least no flashbacks or anything. I did feel a lot of relief. As soon as I landed vault, I was like, ‘Definitely, we’re going to do this,’” Biles said.
The Significance of Her Achievement
The six-time world champion expressed that winning her second team gold felt completely different from her first time in Rio in 2016. “I think in 2016, we were destined to win gold, everybody kind of already said we were going to win gold. Now that I’m much older and we have so much more experience, we’re out here really having fun and enjoying what we’re doing.” She highlighted the joy and camaraderie shared with her teammates, which added a new dimension to their victory.
The Importance of Mental Health in Sports
It is refreshing to see mental health taking center stage alongside physical health at this Olympics. Athletes are more prone to heightened anxiety and other mental health concerns due to the high expectations placed upon them. Incorporating therapy as a normal part of life is crucial, and we eagerly anticipate a future where visiting a therapist is discussed as naturally as a check-up with a physician. Simone Biles' journey represents the importance of acknowledging and addressing mental health, paving the way for a more awareness around this topic.
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