Mental Health in Sports: Why Simone Biles Dropped Out of the Olympics
Simone Biles sent shockwaves across the world this week. She announced that she was dropping out of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics to prioritize her mental well-being. Her decision was met with a myriad of criticism and judgment. Biles is widely renowned for being one of the world’s greatest gymnastic athletes of all time. All of her training has led up to this moment. Embracing vulnerability is always tricky. But, a decision on this scale will change the stigma of mental health in sports forever. The discussion of why Simone Biles dropped out of the Olympics is important. This conversation is an opportunity to raise awareness and help people understand that mental health is medical health. Why Simone Biles Dropped Out of The Olympics On Wednesday, the United States Gymnastics team came forward with an official statement regarding Simone Biles withdrawing from the Olympic games due to a “medical issue”. The report shared no further details. Biles then came forward on her own, stating the me