Simone Biles wouldn’t be on the mat if she didn’t spend time on the couch, she explained at this year’s Olympics in Paris.
As the most decorated gymnast in history, Biles knows keenly what it’s like to have an immense amount of pressure on her. She’s had the world’s gimlet-eyed gaze on her multiple times, after all. Biles came to this summer’s Olympics already having set records, currently holding the title as the oldest women’s gymnast to compete since the 1950s. While this isn’t Biles’s first rodeo, she’s making sure to play the high-stakes game a little differently this time around—on her terms.
“Being in a good mental spot, seeing my therapist every Thursday is kind of religious for me. So that’s why I’m kind of here today,” Biles said late last month after making the Olympic team.
The iconic gymnast made strides after the last Olympics, making a concerted effort not just to work on her mental health, but also to share insight about her journey publically to assuage stigma. She has also come forward as a survivor of sexual abuse by disgraced former national gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar, explaining “it could help a lot of people.” Four years ago, Biles made headlines after dropping out of the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo due to what is called “the twisties.”
The ailment is known as a disconnect between the brain and body that makes gymnasts disoriented. Biles’s candor regarding the toll that this condition took and her decision to leave catapulted her into a new type of spotlight: that of being a mental health advocate.
“We also have to focus on ourselves, because at the end of the day we’re human too,” she said after leaving the competition. “So, we have to protect our mind and our body, rather than just go out there and do what the world wants us to do.”
Not only is Biles stepping into the arena with a newfound dedication to her well-being, she’s also making sure to look after her teammates. Biles provided advice to fellow gymnast Suni Lee after she struggled during her routine. Having gone through the exact same situation, Biles said she knew Lee needed support. She explained that’s exactly what she gave her, adding, “I know how traumatizing it is, especially on a big stage like this. I didn’t want her to get in her head.”
Her newly released Netflix documentary, Simone Biles Rising, further pushes back the curtain behind the trying experience that is competing on a national stage. Giving context to her reemergence in the Olympics, Biles opened up about her process in going to therapy and dealing with past trauma.
Showing the screen her tattoo of Maya Angelou’s words, Biles says she’s not backing down from what she’s gone through. Rather, she’s letting it fuel her. “‘And still I rise’ is perfect,” she adds. “I feel like that’s kind of the epitome of my career and life story. I always rise to the occasion; even after all of the traumas and the downfalls, I’ve always risen.”
