Strength of a Gold Medalist

Many of us saw a different Simone Biles at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics this year. While some criticized her, others supported her despite not knowing why she chose to step down from most of the competition.

With all the pressure of her fans, family, and the weight of being the most decorated gymnast of all time (tied with Shannon Miller), Biles chose to make a tough decision as the world was watching. Biles had to put her mental and emotional health first. She knew she was not in the right headspace to perform her best although physically she may have looked fine.

Simone Biles' perseverance, strength, and courage was still that of a gold medalist. She stood her ground, took the time she needed, and ended with a stunning performance on the women's balance beam event.

On an article "The Atlantic," writer Jemele Hill said, "The world's best gymnast doesn't need to look invincible."

Powerful and so true. I hope this reminds you that you too do not "need to look invincible." It is okay if you need a break from being "super mom" or "super dad" or ______. You fill in your blank, know that you are not alone and even though people might criticize, remember the many people willing to stand by your side.

Thank you all for reading! I hope you all enjoyed and come back for part II as I dive into the mental health side of Simone Biles' story.

(Quote from "The Atlantic" : https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/07/simone-biles-doesnt-need-to-look-invincible/619606/ )