Simone Biles withdrawal from Tokyo Olympics sparks criticism, support, and everything in between
SPRING, Texas (BVM) — On Wednesday, Simone Biles announced that she would not compete in the Olympic all-around competition. Instead, Jade Carey replaced Biles in the competition which took place on Thursday. The United States fell to Russia and still earned a silver medal even without what many would call the best gymnast in the world.
Following a shaky performance on the vault the day prior, the 24-year-old Biles stated that she would not compete so she could focus on her mental health. Biles’ coach and team doctor stated that she would continue to be evaluated to determine whether or not she would compete at all for the rest of the games.
The surprising news stunned the sports world.
Before her announcement on Wednesday, Biles was public about the immense pressure she felt from the games and having to perform her best at all times.
“It wasn’t an easy day or my best but I got through it. Biles said on her instagram account, I truly do feel like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders at times.”
“It’s been really stressful this Olympic Games,” Biles said in a press conference in Tokyo. “It’s been a long year. Just a lot of different variables and I think we’re just a little bit too stressed out, but we should be out here having fun and sometimes that’s not the case.”
Biles’ decision came with the cost of provoking many different reactions, some supportive, some extremely critical.
“We wholeheartedly support Simone’s decision and applaud her bravery in prioritizing her well-being,” USA Gymnastics said in a twitter statement. “Her courage shows, yet again, why she is a role model for so many.”
Her decision to prioritize mental health over the fame of winning seemed to spark awareness and support for people dealing with these issues.
Other athletes who have dealt with mental toughness issues in the past have spoken out about their own issues dealing with the pressures of winning a medal for their country while the entire world watches. Olympic medalist Michael Phelps was sympathetic when heard the news, having been through the same situation himself.
“We’re human beings,” Phelps said in a conversation with NBC Olympics host Mike Tirico. “Nobody is perfect so, yes, it is OK to not be OK. It’s OK to go through ups and downs and emotional roller coasters. But I think the biggest thing is we all need to ask for help sometimes, too, when we go through those times. For me, I can say personally it was something very challenging. It was hard for me to ask for help. I felt like I was carrying, as Simone said, the weight of the world on [my] shoulders. It’s a tough situation.”
Although Biles is receiving support and is being praised for her difficult decision, others are dismayed by her decision because they feel she is a quitter and setting a bad example for younger generations.
“We are raising a generation of weak people like Simone Biles,” Turning Point USA cofounder Charlie Kirk stated on his podcast. “Simone Biles just showed the rest of the nation that when things get tough, you shatter into a million pieces.”
More criticism of Biles’ decision came from Piers Morgan who on Wednesday, published an article for the Daily Mail which was titled “Sorry Simone Biles, but there’s nothing heroic or brave about quitting because you’re not having ‘fun’ — you let down your teammates, your fans and your country.”
Despite the backlash received from her decision to not compete, Biles is taking all the support she receives with gratitude.
“The outpouring love & support I’ve received has made me realize I’m more than my accomplishments and gymnastics which I never truly believed before,” Biles shared on her Twitter.
By prioritizing her mental health, Biles showed the world that even world class athletes feel the immense pressure sports can possess. Biles has shown extreme resilience to mental health issues as she revealed in 2018 during the Larry Nassar trial. Biles still is the only active Olympian who disclosed her abuse and continued to compete at the elite level.
While she has shown unmatched strength to mental health issues, she has also shown that professional athletes are susceptible to pressure and mental health issues as well.
Following the big news, USA’s Women’s team took silver in the team final without Biles, only falling to Russia. Then on Thursday, 18-year-old Sunisa Lee took the gold medal in the Individual Women’s All-Around Final on Thursday. Biles, by her teammates’ side, continued to support the entire time.
