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Lauren Bryant
Faced with an unprecedented amount of pressure and expectation, watched by millions of spectators around the world and, in many ways, destined to win gold, Simone Biles’ shock exit at the Tokyo Olympics reflects a cultural shift around mental health in society.
Entering the Ariake Gymnastics Centre on the 27th July, Simone Biles was set to repeat her success at the 2016 Rio Olympics, but it was clear from her first vault that something was amiss. Attempting a Yurchenko two and a half twist vault, Biles fell short, losing her bearings mid-air and only managing one and a half rotations. Achieving a score of 13.766, she was far off her infamous track record. Obstructed by a bout of the “twisties”- a mental block resulting in the loss of spatial awareness- Biles was forced to pull-out, fearful for her mental and physical safety.
“Biles had the hopes and expectations of an entire nation on her shoulders.”
Withdrawing from the women’s team competition and individual all-around final, Biles’ decision to prioritise her mental health was met with an outpour of praise and admiration, but also criticism. Her lack of “physical injury” led many to accuse her of quitting, of being soft, and even letting her teammates down. But they would be wrong. As the face of modern gymnastics, placed alongside other high-profile athletes like Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps, Biles’ has brought mental health to the forefront of these Olympic games, using her platform to ignite a global conversation.
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She is not the first to do this, though. In May, Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka made an unanticipated withdrawal from the French Open, revealing her long and ongoing battle with depression and anxiety. Having been fined $15,000 for refusing to attend mandatory post-match press conferences- albeit expressing her struggles with mental health- Osaka’s exit from the tournament highlighted the imbalance between physical and mental illness, with the former given greater credence in sport.
Extraordinary skills and “superhuman” abilities may lead us to believe that athletes such as Biles and Osaka are invincible, but they are not. In openly acknowledging and embracing their personal challenges with mental health, we are reminded that they too are susceptible to anxieties and emotions. Sports culture has often prioritised winning over mental wellness. Athletes are subject to scrutiny at every falter or defeat, constantly in pursuit of perfection. For Olympians like Biles, four years of hard training, alongside emotional and physical sacrifice, all comes down to only a handful of performances. An athlete’s identity is reliant on their “success”, and as an American icon and symbol of sporting excellence, Biles had the hopes and expectations of an entire nation on her shoulders.
This is why her withdrawal was such a radical moment.
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Biles has shown that vulnerability is no longer a sign of weakness, and in overcoming our egos, we can understand that the protection of mental health is a far greater strength than winning. By removing the stigma around mental health, the current imbalance between physical and mental well-being is slowly being narrowed, with both placed in equal measure.
But are Biles’ actions reflective of a broader, cultural shift around mental health in society? Some suggest that Generation Z is responsible. Statistically in 2019, a massive 91% of Gen Z said they had experienced a physical or emotional symptom due to stress, such as feeling depressed or sad. However, they were also the most likely generation to seek out help for these mental health issues, reports a study by the American Psychological Association.
Athletes like Biles are voicing this new way of thinking and prioritising the self. Yet, many in society have been raised to “work hard”, to never quit even if it means forfeiting their happiness and physical or emotional well-being. To be a quitter is to fail- a notion which fuelled much of Biles’ criticism. Others have suggested that the prioritisation of mental health is becoming an “excuse” or fashionable trend amongst athletes, as Olympic Champion Adam Peaty has revealed he too will be taking time off to focus on his mental well-being.
Whether or not you agree, it’s clear that society’s perception of mental health is changing for the better, with figures like Biles paving the way for a more accepting future.
Featured Image Courtesy of Bryan Turner on Unsplash. Image license found here. No changes have been made to this image.
Lauren Bryant
Lauren is one of the Social Media Managers at Empoword, and a first-class English graduate planning to convert to Law in September. Alongside working for non-profits tackling public sexual harassment, she is extremely passionate about sociocultural, feminist issues.
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