By Vanessa Cort
ONE of the most decorated gymnasts in the world, Simone Biles, leads the US gymnastics team at the Paris Olympics, as she sets out to show the world the gymnastic wizardry that earned her the title GOAT (Greatest of all time).

This is a ‘far cry’ from the last Olympics in Tokyo, when she was forced to drop out, citing mental health issues. Then, she was roundly criticised by many, who felt she let the team down, but supported by others who understood her need to step back from the sport.

She thanked those who supported her and remained steadfast in the face of criticism, arguing that she could not give of her best when her mental health was failing.
Her sub-standard performance during the Games was certainly indicative that all was not well with her, which she subsequently confirmed in a move that shocked fans and fellow sports personalities alike.

She did not wait until the Games were concluded, but made the brave decision to pull out of the all-round competition, after suffering a case of the “twisties” where she lost track of her spatial orientation.

This mental block was brought on by the pressure of the competition and what was expected of her. She confessed to feeling like ‘the world was on her shoulders’.
However, the movement she began following the Tokyo Games – which had to be pushed forward from 2020 to 2021 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic – has persisted and is now a prime topic of this year’s Paris Games.

After a two-year break, the 4-time Olympic gold medallist returned to her winning ways, taking an 8th national title at the US Gymnastics Championships in August last year. She also made history becoming the first woman to do the Yurchenko double pike, which now bears her name – the Biles 11 and recently submitted a new skill on the uneven bars.

According to Time magazine, “If she performs this skill during her Olympic competition – through the qualification round, team event, all-around, or individual event, if she qualifies for them – then it would be named after her. It would also represent a “clean sweep” as she already has two moves named after her in the vault, two on the floor and one on the balance beam. Should she perform this new skill Time says it would “…further cement her already indelible legacy in gymnastics”.

This astonishing list of achievements testifies to the athlete’s restored mental equilibrium, as she told CNBC, “I worked on myself a lot, I still do therapy weekly and it’s been so exciting to come out here and have the confidence I had before”. She made these comments following her first appearance at the Core Hydration Classic last August.

But, more than all her impressive records, this legendary gymnast has brought fresh awareness to the mental health issues which trouble sports personalities all over the world. Many gained the courage to publicly admit their own vulnerability and insecurity as a result of her outspoken stance on the need to address her mental health.

She has re-energised the movement begun by champion Olympic swimmer, Michael Phelps, to end the taboo against mental health, making, ‘It’s okay, not to be okay’, the clarion call for mental health awareness.

And after all the spectacle, pomp and splendour of the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, last Saturday, it is imperative for all athletes to heed the words of Simone Biles as she advocates for counselling.

“It’s really important to use that support system and know that they’re there for you and not against you, because at the end of the day, us humans, we hate asking for help…We think we can do it on our own, but sometimes we just can’t. So use every outlet given to you”.