Four years after she withdrew from the Tokyo Olympics due to mental health challeges associated with stress, Simone Biles got real about how she felt “overwhelmed” with anxiety in the Olympic Village. Biles shared a candid GRWM (Get Ready With Me) TikTok filmed before she competed (and later, won) the women's gymnastics all-around final. This momentous occasion marked Biles as the first American gymnast to win two all-around Olympic gold medals, further solidifying her status as arguably the best in the sport’s history.
click the image below to watch
the short episode about Simone
Perhaps it would have been too much drama for Biles if she hadn’t already been through so much. At the Tokyo Games three years ago, she had to withdraw from this competition. Her mental health had waned. She remembers being so focused on avoiding an injury that she neglected her mind. That's because of the specter of the "Twisties." The twisties happen when a gymnast is in midair and loses their sense of where they and how they'll land, making the move risky. Biles described it as being "lost in the air."
She carried too much into Tokyo, including the physical and emotional abuse of rising through the USA Gymnastics system. Still, she wanted to keep lifting the program. But when she experienced the “twisties” and couldn’t control her body in midair, and she knew right then that somethng was wrong.
She had to pause her dominant career and explain to the world that she is human. This mental block causes a disconnect between the brain and body, causing you to lose control over the movement. You can overcome the twisties by developing cue words to yourself, visualizing the movement, and talking to a mental healthcare provider. Performance anxiety is common in sports. We don't hear about it often because the athlete keeps it hidden.
In showing vulnerability, Biles further erased the stigma about mental health problems and opened the way for a healthier conversation about how to strive in sports. But at the time, she figured that would be the way her career ended. “I never thought I’d be on a world stage again competing,” Biles said. Many of us realized that we, too, needed to reflect on our own mental challenges and the pressures life throws at us.
Click the image at left to watch
the short episode
Biles shares that she has been in therapy “religiously” every Thursday for the past three years. Before she made history, she spoke to her therapist at 7 a.m. to start the day. When something bad ensnares the mind, it can feel impossible to shake loose, but once you are free, look at the heights you can reach.
When the United States captured the team gold, the gymnasts used the concept of redemption, but for Biles, this was about completing her third Olympic act. She needed to do it for herself, no one else.
We can truly appreciate a champion that has embraced her need for mental health support and is confident enough to keep it in the public eye for all of us to learn. Biles’ journey is a powerful reminder that addressing mental health is crucial, and her story serves as an inspiration for us all to prioritize our well-being and strive for greatness.
Travel FOCUS: When in Miami,
visit the Historic Hampton House
The story of the Hampton House’s survival is as inspiring as its history. At the turn of the century, this once-thriving landmark was on the brink of being lost forever.
When visiting Miami, one of the most compelling landmarks you can't afford to miss is the Historic Hampton House.
This iconic site is a treasure trove of American history, linking the lives of two of the most influential figures of the 20th century: Muhammad Ali and The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. But Ali wasn’t the only legend who walked the halls of the Hampton House. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Nobel Prize-winning civil rights leader, also found solace and support within these walls. It was here that he crafted parts of his powerful “I Have a Dream” speech, a moment that would forever elevate the trajectory of American democracy.
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