After a thrilling show during the women’s gymnastics all-around finals, Simone Biles showed up wearing a bedazzled G.O.A.T. necklace. Sure, it might seem a little on the nose. But no one can deny that she hadn’t earned the right to brag, can they? Shattering glass ceilings might just be one of her superpowers. However, being at the top is not all it’s cracked up to be. We have enjoyed watching the gymnast dominate the mats now, but things weren’t the same 3 years ago. The Olympian made the bold decision to withdraw from the team finals in the Japanese capital not too long ago.

Yes, we’ve all heard of the ‘twisties’, but for Biles, it was so much more than that. She decided to put herself first and focus on her mental health. Many were worried about her succumbing to the same fate in Paris. Little did we know that Biles had come prepared. This time around, her secret weapon kept her on the right path. What was that weapon? Therapy. Simone Biles ensured she didn’t miss a session, come what may. She told the Today Show, “I saw [my therapist] about three or four times throughout [the Olympics].” It goes to show that no one is invincible, not even the G.O.A.T.

Therapy a day keeps the bad energy away

It’s okay to not be okay. Simone Biles reiterated that by stepping away at the nth hour 3 years ago. But since starting therapy, her rigorous routine has one more inclusion. “It didn’t matter if it was before all-around or after qualifications, I went back to the village and did my therapy sessions.” Putting your best foot forward on the world’s biggest stage can be quite daunting, so it’s good to see she’s making time to find her zen. 

At one point, the 27-year-old found it incredibly hard to open up about her struggles. But it looks like she is now in a good spot. While the athlete already has an intense routine, she has learned to make time for what counts. “Since it is part of my daily routine, we don’t have to stop that just because I am halfway across the world.” Even though she didn’t expect it, apart from being one of the greatest gymnasts of her generation, she had added yet another feather to her cap. 

The gymnast now bore the tag of a mental health advocate. But what if we told you that she wasn’t comfortable with going to therapy in the first place? We look at Simone Biles as an invincible human. But she needed help. The catch? She wasn’t okay asking for it. “One of the very first sessions, I didn’t talk at all.” The 27-year-old still had to brush off the belief that you don’t have to be crazy to get therapy. That, according to the gymnast, was half the battle. 

But once she learned to move past that feeling, she looked at therapy in a different light. “It’s a safe space,” Biles confessed. Even though there were moments when the gymnast let the stress get the best of her in Paris, the world witnessed a more carefree version of her. While the 2020 Tokyo Games made it glaringly obvious why an athlete’s mental health is essential, she rewrote her narrative in the French capital – and brought home 4 more Olympic medals. Look at her setting the bar higher than ever! 

Simone Biles was once unsure of her insane skills

The gymnastics world was at a complete standstill when the G.O.A.T took a 2-year long break after the Tokyo Games. Having no control while she was twisting in the air is already eerie enough. But another thing was eating her up from the inside out. Biles was one of the oldest gymnasts competing back then. These factors left her unsure about whether she would be able to pursue yet another Olympic berth. But has she ever backed down from a challenge? 

No, she hasn’t. Simone Biles continued to mesmerize fans leading up to the Paris Olympics. However, her biggest test would be the U.S. Olympic Trials at the Target Center. As expected, the 27-year-old led the meet from the get-go and successfully punched her ticket to the French capital. In an interview with USA Gymnastics after the meet, no one was ready for what she had to say. “Never pictured going to another Olympics.” But the Olympian had worked hard for this day and set out on an adventure to build her confidence again. 

The G.O.A.T had made a bold claim before they set foot in Paris. This year was going to be the Final Five’s redemption tour. After her surprise withdrawal in Tokyo, Team USA had clinched a team’s all-around Olympic silver. But they were coming for the top step of the podium in Paris, and the gymnast was looking to redeem herself. Surprise surprise! That’s exactly what she did! Simone Biles returned home with 4 Olympic medals – 3 golds and 1 silver. Have you been following along on her journey?