Simone Biles, a seasoned gymnast with an unmatched medal tally, returned to the Olympics in Paris after a two-year mental health hiatus. Following her distressing experience at the Tokyo Games in 2021, where she experienced the twisties, Biles recognized the importance of addressing her mental health. She sought therapy and reassessed her approach to competition. This newfound perspective allowed her to compete again in Paris, focusing on personal well-being over external pressures, culminating in four medals, including three golds, showcasing both her physical and mental resilience.
Even as the world's attention was on her, her own focus was decidedly inward. Biles acknowledged the need for mental health support and took necessary steps to prioritize it.
I neglected my mental health, she says. I was like, it's just a couple more months, then another couple more months, and then I can get help.
Biles took two years off from competing before starting to train again for her third Olympics... The only reason I came back for Paris was because of the mental work I had put in.
It is wild now that I think about it, she says, reflecting on the difficulty, and danger, of doing a Yurchenko double pike at 27 years old.
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