Simone Biles - The True Strength of a Woman

I am a huge fan of gymnastics and especially love watching the olympics when all the greatest athletes in the world are on display to showcase and prove they are the best. These athletes work so hard and have so much talent, how can you not look at them and feel like they are someone to admire? Their drive, dedication, persistence are admirable traits. 

When someone like Simone Biles comes along, we are all in awe of her talent and in the case of gymnastics, perfection. Gymnasts are not suppose to have a bad day. When they wobble, take a small hop after a double pike Tsukahara on vault, or step out of bounds after a double double on floor, we gasp. Sticking the landing is the perfection we all want to see and they want to achieve. 

If you follow the sport, you know when a gymnast is having a bad day. Most of the time, a bad day for a gymnast is a bobble or step on a landing. And that can be the difference of making the Olympic team and not making it. So to be the best, a gymnast needs to NOT have a bad day on the days that matter. 

For Simone Biles, I don't believe I had ever seen her have a bad day. Simone is the GOAT (Greatest of all time) in women's gymnastics. With 5 gold medals in the 2016 Olympics, she showcased why she is the best. No other woman comes close to her difficulty. That is why she can fall and still score higher. Because she is doing things no other woman does. Though she rarely falls and is always just about as perfect as anyone could ever be. And therein lies the problem. She is human. And no human is perfect all of the time. 

2020 Olympics

Unfortunately for Simone, her bad day happened at the Olympics in 2020. And while some want to criticize her and others want to praise her, I think there is a middle ground. Of course we are all disappointed. We were hoping to see her dominate the sport this Olympics. We all wanted to see her perfection. 

But she showed her humanity. She quit on the competition when she realized her head was not right. And while people may not understand her fully for doing that, people don't have to. All that matters is that she made the best choice for her and her teammates at the time. She did the best she could do as a human. 

I know, athletes at Simone's level are suppose to be so strong mentally that nothing gets to them. But something did. Or everything did. With Covid happening and no family present, there is no telling what that can do to your mental stability. We can all push off things that are happening around us to focus on our goals to some degree, but mental challenges affect the body and can affect competitions. 

The difference in performing in swimming, or running, basketball or most other sports when you are not mentally strong enough as compared to gymnastics, is that in those other sports, you will just not win. In gymnastics, you could seriously hurt yourself. Getting on the beam or doing flips with the flu, is way different then shooting a hoop and missing because your head is not clear. In gymnastics, their is a much higher potential for injury. 

Simone said she got the "twisties." Other gymnasts understood right away what she meant. It is a term that gymnasts use to describe a loss of control in the air when your brain seems to disconnect from your body and you don't know where you are. I personally understand this because I did gymnastics through high school and I felt that way every time I tried to add a twist to a flip. My brain couldn't handle it. I literally had a black out in my brain. It is a frightening experience. So my hardest trick was a back layout, no twists! All the more reason I am in awe of these athletes who do multiple flips and twists and stick the landings! They have the mental capacity to know where they are in the air and the mental ability to control their bodies at the same time. This is all the more reason Simone decided to sit out if she was getting the twisties, because she could literally kill herself with the level of difficulty she performs. 

Simone made the right call. And I stand by her. I believe she is so great that she would intimidate me if I ever met her, and there are only a few women who I put in that position. Her power and strength were not diminished by her decision to sit out. Sure, she disappointed me. She disappointed the world. We are all selfishly upset that we couldn't see her be the GOAT at the Olympics again in 2020 and show off her triple vault and other dominate skills. 

But she also showed her strength and wisdom. She knew herself. Something many people are not capable of at such a young age. She stood up for herself for what she knew was the right thing to do. Again, not something many people are capable of doing. She knew she couldn't perform. She knew her body and mental state. So she stepped aside. That had to be one of the toughest things she has ever done as an athlete. I think to her, deciding to sit out was tougher than her Yurchenko Double Pike vault. And her making the call to do what she felt was necessary, shows her strength, and that is something that could never be disappointing. 

Raising Awareness for Protecting the Gymnasts

For any woman to stand up and face abusers shows tremendous strength. Simone Biles, along with other high-profile gymnasts like Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney, and Gabby Douglas, publicly revealed that they were among the victums of sexual abuse by former USA Gymnastics national team doctor. 

The scandal exposed systemic issues within USA Gymnastics, including failure to address and report allegations of abuse. It led to the resignation of several top officials within the organization, a complete overhaul of policies, and an increased focus on athlete safety and welfare.

Many of the survivors, including Biles, have become vocal advocates for change in the sport and for stronger protections for athletes. Their efforts have been instrumental in raising awareness about sexual abuse in sports and pushing for reforms to prevent such abuse in the future.

Awareness for Mental Health First

Simone Biles decision to prioritize her mental health over competing in the 2020 Olympics brought global attention to the importance of mental well-being, even at the highest levels of competition. She has been vocal about her struggles and has openly discussed the pressure and stress associated with being a top athlete and the impact it has on mental health. Her candidness has helped destigmatize mental health issues and encouraged other athletes to speak out and seek help.

Simone uses her platform on social media and in public appearances to advocate for mental health awareness. She shares messages of support for those struggling with mental health issues and promotes the importance of self-care and seeking professional help when needed.

By sharing her experiences, she has shed light on the unique mental health challenges faced by athletes, such as intense pressure to perform, public scrutiny, and the physical demands of their sport. Her efforts have made a profound impact on raising awareness for mental health, particularly in women's sports. Her bravery in addressing her own struggles has inspired many and has helped to foster a more supportive and understanding environment for athletes and individuals facing mental health challenges.

The Comeback for 2024 Olympics

For a gymnast to overcome failure, the twisties, and disappointment, and then come back as a mature woman, is unheard of. Simone Biles got back in the gym, worked through her mental struggles, and pushed through in training and is now back for the 2024 Olympics. 

Her athletism and excellence in the sport of gymnastics is unparalled. She won 5 gold medals in the 2016 Olympics and has 5 elements that are named after her, 4 of which, she is the only female athlete who is capable of performing. 

The 5 Biles Elements

These skills, recognized by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), highlight Simone's extraordinary talent and innovation in the sport. 

1. Biles (Floor)
   Double layout with a half twist was first performed by Simone at the 2013 World Championships. Only a few women have ever been able to complete this skill. 

2. Biles II (Floor)
   Triple-double, which is 2 flips with 3 twists in a tucked position, was first debuted by Simone at the U.S. Championships in 2019. This was previously only performed by a few men and Simone remains the only woman to perform the skill in competition as of 2024. The Biles II on florida is currently (as of 2024) the highest rated skill across all apparatuses in Women's Artictic Gymnastics. 

3. Biles (Vault)
   Yurchenko half-on double twist (roundoff back handspring with half turn entry with two somersaluts with 2 twist) was first performed by Simone at the 2018 World Championships. As of 2024, she is the only woman who has performed this vault in competition.

4. Biles II (Vault)
   Yurchenko double pike was first executed by Simone at the 2021 U.S. Classic  but was not completed in competition until the 2023 World Championships. Simone is the first and only woman to complete with difficult skill.

5. Biles (Balance Beam)
   Double-double dismount (2 flips with 2 twists in a tucked position off of the balance beam) was first performed by Simone at the 2019 World Championships. While the skill is the most difficult rated for the balance beam, some believe the skill, should be ranked higher in skill level and has been controversially penalized due to the safety risks of performing the element. 

These elements named after Simone Biles reflect her remarkable contributions to gymnastics, pushing the boundaries of what is considered possible in the sport. Her ability to perform these highly difficult skills with consistency and precision has cemented her legacy as one of the greatest gymnasts of all time.

2024 Olympics

Now in the 2024 Olympics leading the team as the reigning world champion in the all-around, team, beam and floor events, she has the potential to match her 2016 performance and win 5 gold medals. 

Simone, you have showcased the strength of a woman throughout your career, both inside and out, and I admire you, stand by you and your choices, and send nothing but love your way.  I look forward to the 2024 Olympics and watching, not only your athletism and GOAT in gymnastics, but seeing you portray the ultimate strength of a woman.