Has Simone Biles Raised the Stakes for Mental Health Among Athletes?

During the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, Simone Biles, an American gymnast who became the first female U.S. gymnast to win four gold medals at a single Games (during the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio), was expected to win BIG time. 

However, like in many sporting events, things don’t always go as planned. 

During Biles’ first-team vault event on July 27, 2021, she experienced “the twisties.” 

In the gymnastic world, “the twisties” is something that one never wants to go through. “The twisties” is a phenomenon among gymnasts in which they lose control of their bodies while suspended in mid-air. 

After the vault event on July 27th, Biles quickly withdrew from the vault and uneven bars finals for “medical reasons.” Then, she further clarified that she needed to take time for her mental health. 

This decision paved the way for many other athletes to open up about their own mental health struggles, and it has certainly carried through within the current winter Olympics in Beijing. 

Shaun White—a 16-year-old Olympian—also opened up about his struggles with mental health during the current Olympic Games. He mentioned how it has been hard for him to open up about the pressures of always being at peak performance in order to maintain a certain image. 

While many Olympians and professional athletes have opened up about their mental health struggles in relation to their sport, athletics can weigh on the minds of athletes of all magnitudes. 

At Elon, freshman lacrosse player Lila Ceribelli spoke on how the mental aspect of the game has affected her. 

“I devote 20 hours a week to lacrosse, and I was definitely a bit anxious coming in as a freshman,” Ceribelli says. 

However, she looked to Biles as a role model in regards to taking care of her own mental health.

“Biles’ actions reminded me and so many other athletes that your sport doesn’t always need to come first if your mental health is suffering,” Ceribelli says. 

Spreading awareness about mental health remains a vital aspect of society. Many want to learn more, as mental health affects everyone in so many different ways. 

If you ever need to talk, never be afraid to reach out. You are never alone.

Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800-273-8255

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