Simone Biles

I may get a lot of slack for writing this but I pray that this speaks to people in the way it should. For those that don't know, the Olympics are taking place right now in Tokyo and many have been watching their favorite athletes and their favorite events take place over the past few couple of days. I myself like watching the Olympics because its like a break from the everyday and you get to see people doing what they love doing and what they have trained so hard for. With all that being said, Simone Biles is one of those people and she has been in headlines ever since her first Olympic debut, bringing home countless medals and much warranted honor and recognition back to the great USA. However as of late people are frowning at her, shaming her and even going so far as to call her selfish because she did something for herself(God forbid!). Recently Ms. Biles chose not to partake in one of the team events during this year's Olympics and also stepping away from an individual event citing her need for doing so as needing to pay attention to her mental health and making sure that she is ok and basically doesn't burn herself out doing what she so loves to do. She has trained like this since she was a toddler! I can only imagine the limited amount of breaks that were taken and so for someone to call her selfish or to say that is it dishonoring America, (when we are already doing so well compared to other countries- in the Olympics I mean!) is completely ludacris! I do not do gymnastics, I could not do it if I tried and I am a female saying this! So to imagine being a normal female human or even a male human doing ANY of the things she has to do, FLAWLESSLY I might add, is asking a pretty tall order for us. For the critics saying that this is not a step that she should have taken please walk with me down this road very briefly and I'll help paint the picture for you, ME a non competing everyday individual. I have depression and anxiety and take medicine for this condition. It is not easy, nor is it commonplace(and that unfortunately is the problem, maybe to be discussed in a different article) and the stigma that surrounds it puts "us" as the odd ones out. Ms. Biles, while she may not be completely diagnosed with this condition or any condition similar to it is facing an amount of pressure that is UNPARALLEL to anything we could possibly even conceive. I wake up with this feeling and take meds for it! Yet I am not competing and representing the ENTIRE USA. So please please for the love of all that is holy, good, graceful and jolly help me understand how Ms. Biles, again someone who has surpassed MANY of us multiple times over, can be criticized and basically "blamed" for needing to step back and allow her teammates to carry this home for us? You don't think she's heartbroken, confused as to why the thing that gave her the most joy, the thing she put her livelihood into is making her feel so burnt out or so unfulfilled? Many celebrities have spoke to this matter as well and they can probably attest to the need for a break and I can almost guarantee that people are not as upset with artists who haven't released anything for awhile, most people I know most patiently and eagerly await their next track. So please please PLEASE do not try to tell me that this beautiful hardworking soul is in ANY way at fault for taking time for herself! Some of this critics out here that are bashing her would much rather have gold medals(NONE OF WHICH THEY WOULD EVER EVEN GET TO HOLD OR SEE IN PERSON! Stupid when you think about it , ha!) than to have our athletes take the time and prayer/meditation and yes even medicine that is needed to be able to get back to their prime and pristine conditions. You want her to win medals so badly? Leave her alone so that she can heal from whatever is ailing her because for someone like that to step away from something that they love, it must be something extremely important. Again I am an everyday person, often preaching to friends how important mental health is because I suffer from it more often than I'd like to ever admit but in order for people to understand how brave Ms. Simone Biles actually is you need the picture to be painted for you because I would never want anyone to go through that especially if you haven't already. Bottom line Simone Biles is a hero even if its just to herself, mental health is important; don't let anyone tell you otherwise and no one else has you like you! I hope this all finds everyone well even Ms. Biles if she happens to come across it and until next time, Good Luck USA, get well Ms. Biles, and everyone stay safe!