This year for Black History Month, we want to highlight Black athletes who have been open about their mental health struggles.
Simone Biles shocked the world when she withdrew from the team competition at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
Although she was previously open about anxiety and panic attacks prior to the Olympic games, Biles hid her inner turmoil that finally hit a tipping point when she experienced “the twisties.” A term referring to a mental block when a gymnast loses control of their body in the air, no longer able to complete a twisting skill they’ve done countless times before.
“We have to protect our body and our mind … It just sucks when you’re fighting with your own head. Whenever you get in a high-stress situation, you kind of freak out. I have to focus on my mental health and not jeopardize my health and well-being,” said Biles. “I know I brush it off and make it seem like pressure doesn’t affect me but sometimes it’s hard, hahaha! The Olympics is no joke.”
Later that year, in October 2021, Biles opened up in an interview on the “Today” show, that she was “still scared to do gymnastics.” Though she has now found herself in a new role as a mental health advocate.
“See for me, that was the hardest part because speaking out on mental health, I knew that I could have the possibility of becoming an advocate for that. But it wasn’t my goal. It’s not what I really wanted,” Biles told Olympics.com in an exclusive interview prior to her Gold Over America Tour’s third stop in Anaheim.
“So, to kind of be put at the forefront, it’s like… I’m still going through my own thing. So how am I supposed to teach people, hey, like, you should do this or this, but everybody goes through that process differently and there are different methods that work for each individual person,” Biles continued. “I didn’t really want to, but at least we’re going through it together and I could teach them something in that.”
When struggling with mental health, it’s important to reach out for help.
“It’s really important to use that support system and know they’re there for you and not against you, because at the end of the day, us as humans, we hate asking for help,” Biles said. “We think we can do it on our own, but sometimes we just can’t. So, use every outlet given to you.”
Biles said she has many techniques to help with her mental wellness, including using the mental health app Cerebral, and is now the chief impact officer with the company.
“Getting the mental health therapy that I need has been really relieving for me, especially being on the road and on tour. I’m happy to have such a great app to help out with that,” she said. Biles also likes going on walks outside and indulges in a little retail therapy.
For Simone Biles to prioritize mental health when the whole world was watching you was a brave, inspiring, and game-changing thing. It was a courageous decision that continues to inspire millions of fans all over the world.
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