Simone Biles had to unfortunately withdraw from several events at the Tokyo Olympics due to mental health concerns.
“I didn’t want to go into any of the other events second-guessing myself,” Biles said, via the Associated Press. “So, I thought it would be better if I took a step back and let these girls go out there and do their job.”
For some inexplicable reason, Biles was accused of quitting on her teammates. That’s not the case at all, especially once fans realize why Biles had to withdraw in the first place.
USA Gymnastics videographer Deanna Hong spoke to two former gymnasts about Biles’ situation and what could’ve happened if she pushed through her mental health concerns. The results could’ve been very scary to say the least.
“One former US elite gymnast I talked to said that if it was someone other than Simone Biles who had made that same error, they would have certainly blown a knee, at minimum,” Hong wrote. “Another said if it had happened to her instead of Simone, ‘I probably would have ended up paralyzed.’”
Most non-gymnastics fans do not understand the seriousness of what happened because she landed on her feet. Every elite gymnast I’ve talked to has said that Simone Biles’s vault was TERRIFYING and it’s a miracle she put that vault to her feet & avoided seriously injuring herself.
— Deanna Hong (@DeannaHong) July 28, 2021
Think about that for a second. Biles could’ve suffered a long-term injury if she didn’t withdraw from the team finals and individual all-around competition.
Hong believes Biles avoided an injury at the Tokyo Olympics because of her athleticism.
“Most non-gymnastics fans do not understand the seriousness of what happened because she landed on her feet. Every elite gymnast I’ve talked to has said that Simone Biles’s vault was TERRIFYING and it’s a miracle she put that vault to her feet & avoided seriously injuring herself,” Hong said. “It’s not that she made a silly mistake and landed poorly – her mind & body betrayed her in the air while doing one of the hardest vaults in the world, and it’s only due to her extreme athleticism that she was able to land safely.”
It’s not that she made a silly mistake and landed poorly – her mind & body betrayed her in the air while doing one of the hardest vaults in the world, and it’s only due to her extreme athleticism that she was able to land safely.
— Deanna Hong (@DeannaHong) July 28, 2021
It’s unfortunate that Biles didn’t get to pick up where she left off at this year’s Olympics. However, all that really matters now is that she gets back on the right track.
Biles is receiving plenty of support from her family, friends and fans this week.
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