Just when we thought Simone Biles couldn’t get any better
The Olympian gave us all a lesson in bravery.
You’ve trained your whole life for this, overcome adversity to be here, you’re on the world stage, and something doesn’t feel right. How would you react?
There will be many words written about what Simone Biles did on Tuesday 27th July, 2021 at the Tokyo Olympics. Some favourable, some sadly not so. But what she did is worth so much more than any medal.
It was both an act of self-care and selflessness.
In the early stages of the Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Team Final, Simone Biles withdrew from competition after completing just one vault in the first rotation. She was battling with herself, “it’s just me in my head”.
Simone was putting her health and wellbeing first, as well as ensuring that her team had the best possible opportunity to compete for a medal. What she didn’t know was the positive ripple effect this decision will have.
It was an act of bravery and courage to know herself, and to put her team first and give them the best chance of medalling. It was proof that she’s not here for medals at all cost (if she ever was), she’s doing it for the love of the sport. And sometimes when you love something you have to let it go.
Simone had seemingly done everything in her sport. She’s a champion, won countless medals at the highest level, spoken out and worked to fight injustice in her sport. She was already an incredible role model, a GOAT, but now she has gone one step further. She has shown that she is human, that she is not indestructible. And while we might watch the Olympics thinking that these athletes are the epitome of strength, courage, sacrifice, talent and hard work, Simone has added another element.
She has shown bravery when she performs her high-risk, ground breaking skills, but she showed true heroism as she made the decision to withdraw.
She has shown people the world over that it’s okay to put yourself first. It’s okay to push the boundaries but know your limits. That nothing is worth sacrificing your own wellbeing for.
And she did it all with grace and humility. You don’t get to the top of your sport without a will to win and probably a little selfishness to get there. You could have understood if she’d cried, shown her frustration and disappointment. Yet, when she came back to her team after making the decision she moved into the role of Chief Cheerleader. She might not have been able to help her team score points through her gymnastics, but she made damn sure her teammates were supported while they did.
In a world where we only see people’s highlight reels on social media, and during a sporting event where success is determined by medals around your neck, Simone Biles taught us all that it’s okay not to be okay. That it’s okay - no, essential - to prioritise your wellbeing above all else.
We owe her a world of gratitude.
