Simone Biles

Simone Biles was born in Columbus, Ohio, and was in foster care as a kid. She was a star gymnast as a kid, and got a scholarship to attend UCLA. She has competed in 2 Olympics, winning 8 Medals, including 4 Golds. She is widely regarded as one of, if not the greatest gymnast of all time.

During her gymnastics career, Biles has dealt with anxiety and depression. During the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Biles dropped out of some events due to anxiety. She talked about how her mental health wasn’t in the place it needed to be, and she didn’t feel comfortable competing. Biles is still regarded as one of the greatest gymnasts despite not competing in those events.

Biles’ actions on the biggest stage, in the Olympics, showed that everyone struggles with mental health. She continues to be a great advocate for mental health, and has showed even great athletes struggle with anxiety.

Further Resources

https://people.com/sports/simone-biles-tool-she-uses-to-help-combat-anxiety/

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/27/simone-biles-focusing-on-mental-health-how-to-tell-if-you-need-a-break.html