Simone Biles is Back!

And maybe even stronger than ever

There’s no question that Simone Biles is the greatest gymnast of all time. And as tricky a sport as gymnastics is, one could argue that she is the greatest athlete of all time. 

As a former gymnast, I will forever be a fan of this beautiful and very dangerous sport. I still have the motor plans for all of my tumbling skills stored in my brain and even dream about doing a floor exercise routine occasionally. My middle-aged body is no longer capable of performing these maneuvers, of course, but my brain thinks it can!

So many people criticized Simone after the Tokyo Olympics, but perhaps those critics don’t understand the very real possibility that Simone could have been seriously injured had she tried to compete while suffering from “the twisties,” that dreaded disconnect between brain and body. 

To see someone of her caliber succumb to the mental challenges of the sport and the pressures of performing at such a high level was surprising, and it made me realize that everyone struggles from time to time. We should all be proud of the way she handled her situation. 

Not only was she dealing with the pressure of the Olympics and the expectation that she would take home multiple gold medals, but she was also preparing to testify about Larry Nassar, the now infamous former US gymnastics team doctor who was convicted of molesting multiple gymnasts. 

As a survivor of sexual assault myself, I can understand the manifestation of trauma in the most inopportune ways. You can’t control when your brain reacts to your past abuse. 

Obviously, we were all disappointed that we didn’t see her fully compete in Tokyo, but she did the right thing. And think about the opportunities she created for her teammates. To see how well Team USA performed even without her speaks volumes about the depth of USA gymnastics. 

The saddest part for me was not knowing if we would ever see her compete again. But clearly, she has something to prove, if not to her fans and naysayers, but to herself. 

She competed at the US Classics this weekend and absolutely dominated, scoring 59.1 overall points in the all-around, a full five points over second place. 

Her win is a victory for every survivor of sexual assault, including me. If she can work through her trauma, so can I. 

Simone had the courage to discuss and defend her mental health; to set boundaries on what we can expect from athletes. In doing so, she has not only reset the bar in athletic performance, but she has also set a positive example for everyone to follow. She has reminded us that even those we think are invincible are human. 

She is setting a positive example for everyone to follow, not just athletes. In admitting that she not only needs, but seeks help for her emotional wellbeing, she is making it socially acceptable to do so. She is helping to remove the stigma from mental healthcare. 

I loved every moment of watching her compete, and I can’t wait to see what she does leading up to the 2024 Olympics in Paris! Simone, I’m cheering for you. 

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Did you watch the U.S. Classic event last weekend? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

As always, I hope you all are safe and healthy.