via Getty
USA’s Simone Biles reacts after taking bronze in the Women’s Balance Beam Final at Ariake Gymnastic Centre on the eleventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan. Picture date: Tuesday August 3, 2021. (Photo by Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images)
via Getty
USA’s Simone Biles reacts after taking bronze in the Women’s Balance Beam Final at Ariake Gymnastic Centre on the eleventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan. Picture date: Tuesday August 3, 2021. (Photo by Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images)
Simone Biles is an inspiration for millions of people, but it’s certainly not easy to be in her shoes. The most decorated gymnast ever has had her own struggles during her career, and the most recent and probably toughest one of them was the Tokyo Olympics. Even after two years, it’s quite hard to forget what she went through at the time.
via Getty
TOKYO, JAPAN – AUGUST 03: Simone Biles of Team United States reacts before the Women’s Balance Beam Final at Ariake Gymnastics Centre on August 03, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Xavier Laine/Getty Images)
She has been away from gymnastics since the 2020 Tokyo Games. While she hasn’t made any official revelation about her future in the sport, many believe that her career is close to being over. However, Simone Biles has faced such dilemmas many a time in her career and has always been wise enough to choose what’s best for her.
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Biles recalls the horror of the Tokyo Olympics
While Rio Olympics decorated her with four gold medals, Tokyo Olympics was somewhat of a disappointment. Pulling out from an Olympic event is not something an athlete can leave behind easily. Simone faced a lot of criticism, battled through her state of mind, and did what she felt right at the moment.
via Reuters
Tokyo 2020 Olympics – Gymnastics – Artistic – Women’s Team – Final – Ariake Gymnastics Centre, Tokyo, Japan – July 27, 2021. Simone Biles of the United States during the Women’s Team Final REUTERS/Mike Blake
As she recalls everything that happened, she said, “Honestly, last year was a crazy year. But I think pushing mental health to the forefront was a huge thing. I honestly didn’t realize in that moment the impact that it would have.”
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The Olympic champion further added, “A couple months later, I have acknowledged everything that has happened. But it still blows my mind to know that it wasn’t spoken about before as much as it is now, and we’re not open about it and people don’t perceive it the same way as an injury.”
Is Simone Biles thinking of retirement?
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For an athlete like Simone Biles, no one can predict if she has already hit the prime of her career or there’s even greater things yet to come. Obviously, people can only guess and, as an athlete, it’s always tough to decide when to stop and when to keep going.
Perhaps Simone Biles is at the crossroad where things aren’t as clear as they were 6 years back when she made her Olympic debut. Hence, the decision about her retirement still remains under curtains.
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