“Not Getting Punched in the Head”: Inspired by Simone Biles, American Boxer Opens Up on Mental Health Issues After 20 Years of Struggle

Gymnastics GOAT Simone Biles created shock waves when she pulled out of multiple events at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Citing mental health reasons, Biles prioritized her health and well-being over aiming for a repeat of her Rio Olympics glory. This move received severe backlash from the public, but Biles remained unshakable in her decision.

Performing such hard skills in her state could have led to fatal injuries. Moreover, with Biles opening up about her mental health, many athletes from different sports felt motivated to speak up about their struggles.

Simone Biles influenced the boxing world as well

Recently American professional boxer Omar Figueroa Jr. told reporters about his mental health struggles. After years of physical abuse, he went through, Figueroa saw a doctor. Subsequently, he was diagnosed with PTSD, bipolar disorder, depression, and ADHD.

The 2014 WBC Lightweight champion revealed he sought help after watching Simone Biles withdraw from the Tokyo Olympics. “I saw Simone Biles decide to pull out of the Olympics despite the fact that she was one of the top stars and maybe the athlete who was the most under the microscope at those Games,” he said. “She had the guts to do what was right for her and for her mental health.”

Explaining her decision to pull out, Biles mentioned she had caught a case of the ‘twisties’, which causes gymnasts to lose spatial awareness when up in the air. And with Biles’ repertoire of exceedingly dangerous skills, competing in that state could have proved fatal or near-fatal for the gymnast. Comparing her situation to himself, Figueroa said, “I’m not discrediting gymnasts, but they’re not getting punched in the head and having their brains beaten on like we do [as boxers].” 

READ MORE: “I Just Get Confused”: ‘Gymnastics Twins’ Recall Their First Meeting With GOAT Simone Biles

He continued, “I said to myself, ‘Why am I not doing that? Why don’t I have the courage to seek the treatment like she did, because I have had issues for 20 years?’ That got the ball rolling for me.” Starting from watching online videos, Figueroa sought professional help and learned about his condition.

Biles fight for mental health awareness

Ever since the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Simone Biles has found herself in the role of a mental health advocate. Her move sparked a global conversation about how we stigmatize mental health issues in the world of sports. The pressure this puts on athletes forces them to set aside their well-being and focus on competing.

Her courageous move inspired a number of different athletes to speak out in her defense and share their own stories. Naomi Osaka, who had pulled out of the French Open and skipped Wimbledon in an act of self-preservation, inspired Biles. Adding to the list of big-name athletes that have pushed the conversation forward, Michael Phelps has been open about his struggles with depression and suicidal ideation for years.

Serena Williams, Ronda Rousey, Kevin Love, and many others have also shared their battles with mental health. Hopefully, we will see a significant change in the perception of such issues faced by athletes in the near future.

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