Earlier today, at a gut-wrenching press conference, Simone Biles explained why she stepped back from the team competition in the Tokyo Olympics. She felt that she needed some time to work on her mental health and mindfulness and didn't want for her team to suffer.
This simple act has brought so much heated debate to the internet. Some view it as Simone being a "quitter" while others view it as a moment to celebrate because she put her mental health first. The reality is probably somewhere in between, but whatever her reason, we should look to Simone Biles as an inspiration. All athletes, no matter what the sport, can take her actions and learn from them.
We don't know what struggles Simone is going through. In order to become an elite athelete, which she most certainly is, it takes years of relentless dedication. What she must have been going through in order to make the decision to step back on the stage she's been training for her whole life must have been tremendous.
The fact of the matter is, Simone was struggling. She knew it and she also knew that there was no coach that was going to "pull" her. When a pitcher struggles, there is a bullpen of other pitchers behind her waiting to pick up the slack. In softball, a coach makes that decision, however difficult it may be. In gymnastics, especially for someone like Simone, there is no bullpen waiting to relieve her. No coach was going to make that call. She had to do what she felt was best for herself and her team. And that's exactly what she did.
In sports, we are trained to win, we're trained to want the spotlight on us, we're trained to never give up. Simone Biles was also trained this way. She put her team first, knowing she couldn't compete at the level that was needed from her. That makes her the ultimate GOAT. Being selfless in order to elevate your team is the definition of a team player. All of our players should be willing to make that sacrifice for their team and sit the bench when they're not what's best for the team. That's what makes someone great, not selfishly hoarding the spotlight to the detriment of the team.
Lastly, Simone Biles is an inspiration for putting her mental health first. We forget that at the end of the day, for most of us, sports is just a recreation. Yes, occasionally scholarships are awarded and contracts are signed, but for the vast majority of players, this is something that is supposed to be enjoyable. Yes, we want to win. Yes, we throw everything we have into it. Yes, we empty the tank and leave nothing on the field. But sometimes, we need to sit back and think about ourselves first. We need to make sure that we are taking care of ourselves. We need to give ourselves permission to sit one out. Simone Biles isn't perfect, but by putting her team first, she showed today why she's so much stronger than we thought.
Good luck, Simone
