After the happenings in Tokyo, it seemed like we might have observed Biles at her final Olympics. However, you can’t draw a celebrity crowd and transcend your sport unless you are truly exceptional. When she made her comeback to gymnastics last summer after a two-year hiatus, it quickly became evident that she was still performing at her peak. Some may argue, even better.
She swiftly secured a sixth world all-around title and displayed some of her most challenging gymnastics yet, introducing a new skill, the Biles II vault – the fifth move to be named after her. Even as she entered these Olympics, she submitted a new uneven bars skill to the gymnastics federation, making her the sole active gymnast with eponymous skills on all four apparatus if she executes it here. The boundaries she has pushed surpass anything she lands on the pads.
Her openness about her mental health in Tokyo sparked important discussions on the topic, emphasizing the message that personal well-being is more important than medals. She has shared a candid account in a recent Netflix documentary about her time in Tokyo, the stress of expectations, and the impact of being labeled a “quitter” by some on social media and beyond. When testifying in the Larry Nassar abuse scandal, she revealed that the abuse by the former USA team doctor had been an “incredibly heavy burden” without her family at the pandemic-affected Tokyo Games. In the documentary, she revealed her “forbidden Olympic closet” where she stored kits, medals, and other memorabilia from those Games, a place where she spent many hours crying.
She has outlined the struggles she faced to regain her status as an Olympic gold medalist, mentioning after the team final that she had “started off with therapy this morning.” Biles returned to her sport on her own terms, stating earlier in the year, “Nobody’s forcing me to do it.” The team relieved her of pressure by assuring her that she did not need to compete in every event, and she avoided speaking to reporters after training or qualifying sessions. These Games are unlike Tokyo – her husband is accompanying her, fans are back in the stands, and attitudes towards mental health have shifted.
And the world’s most decorated gymnast has added another Olympic gold medal to her collection.
#BilesMagic #GymnasticsQueen #MentalHealthMatters #OlympicsGold #StayStrong
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