The Olympic Games draw global attention, placing immense pressure on athletes to perform at their best. This competition can be exhausting for both the body and the mind.
Simone Biles made headlines in Tokyo by withdrawing from events due to mental health concerns, a decision many praised as courageous.
“For her, at the highest stage, to choose herself and risk disappointing a country and being OK with that, I think, is such a strong thing to do,” said Ashley Hoffman of Team USA Field Hockey.
Biles’ decision has sparked important conversations about mental health in sports, highlighting that it’s acceptable not to be OK.
“Having stars that come out and talk about mental health challenges that they’ve faced throughout their careers helps other athletes of all levels, and frankly, all different sports understand that this isn’t something that’s unique to them. It happens across the board. And it’s OK to seek help,” said Dr. Jonathan Finoff, Chief Medical Officer of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee.
