In stepping back from the Olympic competition in Tokyo, Simone Biles shone a spotlight on mental health. Widely considered the G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time) in women’s gymnastics, Biles faced unprecedented pressure in the lead-up to the Olympic games in Tokyo. Not only that, with Tokyo in a state of emergency due to COVID, the sense of isolation due to coronavirus restrictions – not having an audience in the stands during competition, separation from family back home – heightened the sense of stress. Even so, it took courage to drop out of the Olympic team competition and individual events where Biles was the overwhelming favorite.

Read more about Simone Biles’ choice to prioritize her mental health here:

‘We’re human, too’: Simone Biles highlights importance of mental health in Olympics withdrawal

Silva, Daniella. “’We’re human, too’: Simone Biles highlights importance of mental health in Olympics withdrawal.” NBC News, 27 July 2021, nbcnews.com/news/olympics/we-re-human-too-simone-biles-highlights-importance-mental-health-n1275224.

Photo credited to ​​Daniella Silva.