Why Simone Biles & Naomi Osaka Are Changing The Game For Mental Health

It’s the breaking news of the 2021 Summer Olympic Games that are gaining worldwide attention. So how is Simone Biles, Olympic gold medalist changing the game for mental health? Simone made a tough decision and withdrew from the team competition and All-around finals due to mental health.

This news left everyone scratching their heads and speculating what went wrong. There have been overwhelmingly supportive responses from current and former Olympic athletes. Unfortunately, cyberbullies and conservatives claim that Simone is letting down her country and should suck it up. 

Simone Biles

However, since the Olympic Games started, I had a gut feeling that something was off with Simone. I don’t know her personally, and I’m not a mental health professional or a gymnast. However, she appeared to be more nervous than others. The expression on her face during warm-ups seemed that she wasn’t happy with how she performed. Something about her energy and the look in her eyes made me feel concerned that something was wrong.

I quickly put those thoughts out of my mind thinking that the G.O.A.T. would be fine as usual. Unfortunately, my gut instinct was right. Her last practice vault was scary to watch. She looked lost in the air, and she didn’t spot her landing. Simone was visibly upset, tearing up and shaking her head. Once the news of Simone’s withdrawal from the competition was announced, everyone assumed that it was a physical injury. Although Simone has been vocal in press conferences over the last 24-48 hours, her head wasn’t in a good state.

How can this mental state affect her performance as a world-class gymnast? The best explanation came from her former teammate, friend,  and commentator Natasha Liukin gave the best explanation for what Simone Biles experienced on the vault. She broke down the images and explained that some gymnasts experience times when they “lose sight” and orientation. During a vault as their body flies and twists through the air, also known as “twisties.” 

Simone Changing the Game on Mental Health

Simone performs the most difficult vault in the world that there is no other gymnast capable of performing. 

The stress of competition and expectations to win gold, her support system back in the United States. On top of the ever-changing COVID-19 pandemic regulations in Japan took their toll. As a result, Simone vault was the lowest scored vault of her professional career.

Simone made the toughest decision of her life. Risk injury by continuing to compete despite listening to her body and mind. Jeopardizing the team’s chance of medaling at the all-around competition or withdraw. 

Bravely Simone decided it wasn’t worth injuring herself or risk her team’s chance to win a medal.

This is shocking! She risked feature endorsement opportunities and continued to make her own path. I loved her teammate’s reaction the most; they were concerned for her well-being and supported her immediately. Simone could’ve easily gone to the locker room and watched the rest of the competition in private. She mustered up the courage to cheer on her teammates despite her own inner turmoil and was their biggest cheerleader. 

What a wonderful example to other young athletes and men and women worldwide. Showing that you can still honor your emotions while changing the game on mental health while still be there for your team. 

Naomi Osaka

Recently I watched Naomi Osaka Netflix docuseries. It took you through her journey as the top-ranking Japanese tennis player in the world. Showing her journey of struggling with fame and mental health.

I didn’t know much about her. But her videos kept popping up on my Youtube watchlist, so I took a chance and watched the first episode. Watching the three-episode docuseries, I realized that I have a similar personality to Naomi. She has a quiet and reserved personality and tends to reflect on the meaning of life. Naomi is a sensitive and thoughtful person. She doesn’t value fame or popularity in the same way like most American’s do. 

This docuseries takes you through her inner turmoil with balancing a professional tennis career. The tragic loss of her mentor and friend Kobe Bryant. Finding her voice to stand up to racial injustices and police brutality in America.

The beautiful thing about Naomi is she has an amazing capacity of emotional sensitivity for others. She openly expresses her emotions and considers other players’ feelings in a way that we aren’t used to seeing. A great example of this is at the end of the 2019 U.S. Open with Coco Gauff. Coco lost her match and was visibly upset, and Naomi went over to her and invited her to do the end-of-match interview. She encouraged Coco and even complimented Coco parents for being great parents to their daughter. 

Perhaps Naomi was paying it forward. A few years prior Serena Williams gave her the same compassion and graces after Naomi beat Serena in the USA Open.

Naomi stood on the podium to receive her much-deserved trophy. Serena was gracious and stood up for Naomi. Saying that Naomi deserved this moment and pleaded for the fans to stop booing and be good sports. 

What We Can Learn From Naomi and Simone on Changing the Way We View Mental Health?

These moments in sports are rare, and each time I see the video, it brings tears to my eyes. A sisterhood of support and encouragement shows the value of friendship over wins. Both of these strong women are changing the game and the way we view mental health. We can learn from these two athletes is to listen to my body and mind and put that before work, money, and fame. At the end of the day, you have to listen to the negative thoughts and inner demons.

No one knows you as you do, and it’s important to take a moment and check-in with yourself and listen to that inner voice if something is off. Be mindful that we are human beings and need to treat each other with dignity and respect. 

It’s okay to not be okay. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and burnout, it’s okay to put your life on pause to take the time to reconnect with yourself through self-care and meditation.

If you enjoyed this article check out How To Step Out Of Your Comfort Zone And Into Your Life.