Mental health in the gymnastics realm was taboo. That was until Simone Biles decided to break all the stereotypes. Being vocal about keeping one’s mind and body at bay, things took a wild turn when Biles decided to quit the Tokyo Olympics. Having faced difficulties in syncing her body with her mind mid-air, Biles decided to draw a line. With the whole world watching, Biles made an audacious decision to prioritize herself before the games.
This was something new for the gymnastics fraternity. Because in the olden days, women’s gymnasts were perceived as ‘Little Girls in Pretty Boxes.’ While the world called Biles a ‘quitter,’ the US gymnastics queen showed guts to stand up for her. Biles did not hesitate to come out and defend herself, saying that her mind and body were of utmost importance. This idea of putting oneself above the sport was something that nobody was ready for.
And with the passage of time, Biles has become an unexpected advocate for mental health issues. In a recent interview with CNN, Biles mentioned how she supports and values every individual’s battle. Reflecting on the topic, the gymnastics GOAT stated that she did not want to be a ‘poster girl’ for the act. Instead, her victory lies solely in inspiring others to break the shackles and speak for themselves.
Biles said, “Everybody’s mental health journey is unique… I’m not the poster child for it, but I’ll support (anyone’s) mental health journey. Now people come up to me and they’re like, ‘I’ve been in therapy for the first time in my life, and thank you so much,’ There’s power in that. And I just know I’m helping people out there.” The 27-year-old’s brave approach did make a huge difference in the realm of gymnastics. The previously heavily sought after ‘No Pain, No Gain’ motto has been discarded by most since.
Speaking about the matter, Biles has earlier laid stress on how to deal with the mental struggles. She insisted that people facing problems must not hesitate to reach out for help. The Olympic gold medalist also reminded that human nature will try to suppress the idea of asking for help. She gave her own example after Tokyo, when she was down and out, and even considered retirement.
It was then that Biles took therapy and started to see drastic changes within weeks. Biles has also spoken about using an app called Cerebral. Having benefited significantly from the company, the Olympic champion is now working as the Chief Impact Officer for the brand. Interestingly, it was not only her fans that Simone Biles influenced. She also had her husband, Jonathan Owens, resort to therapy.
Simone Biles helps out Jonathan Owens with therapy
Jonathan Owens was a first-hand witness to Simone Biles’ struggles. Looking at her mentally bruised and battered wife, Owens offered all the help he could have at his disposal. However, the NFL star noticed something—his wife was showing drastic improvements while taking therapy. Now, Owens too, just like the others, was skeptical about therapy initially and thought that it actually did not serve a purpose.
Gradually, the Chicago Bears’ star became inspired and opted for therapy himself. Speaking on the incident on the Netflix documentary ‘Simone Biles Rising’, Owens stated, “She really opened my eyes.” Owens also said how Biles had asked her to opt for a therapist. Despite dismissing her initial advice, Owens did listen to his wife and it made all the difference. Looking back at his experience, Owens said, “It’s a humbling thing because you have to go back and look at yourself in the mirror.”
Thus, after conquering the gymnastics realm, Simone Biles has been actively looking to transform people’s lives too. This way, she truly stands as an exemplary figure who is not only concerned about her own professional field but is eager to make an impact for society’s greater good.
