“The Most I Could Do” – A Week After Simone Biles Stand for Sarah Voss, Gymnast Recalls Life Threatening Scare During Paris Olympics Fight

For German gymnast, Sarah Voss the Paris Olympics was a measure of personal triumph. Competing in her second Olympics, her journey and preparation for the Games in 2024 had been far from ideal. While Simone Biles’ gesture left her delighted, the days continued to be a struggle for the 2019 and 2022 German all-around national champion.

In the build-up to the Olympics, she missed three and a half weeks in the gym and suffered from frequent fatigue and a proper diagnosis revealed a troubling reality. “I would say the road here was very bumpy. I got sick and I was very frustrated. I didn’t know what’s going on with my body. And the doctors didn’t know what to do anymore,” the German mentioned on July 25. However, eventually, it was figured out that she suffered from Lyme-Borreliose. This came after she was diagnosed with mononucleosis as well.

In a post on Instagram on August 2, Voss shared some heartbreaking news. She posted an image of herself and shared, “Feeling tired and sad. Definitely not the outcome I had hoped for but definitely the most I could do in my situation.” In her post, she recalled how she had been dealing with Chronic Lyme disease while preparing for the Games in Paris.

She opened up, “Enduring several weeks/ months of crazy pains, fatigue, constant brain fog, neck and joint pains and headaches, which required several weeks of medical treatments in the hospital, was definitely not the ideal preparation towards my second Olympic Games. Still it’s something that holds me back from performing at my best.”

Germany finished in 13th place during the qualifications. While the team didn’t snag a full spot for the 2024 Olympics, Voss clinched an individual berth as the highest-placing eligible gymnast on floor exercise—talk about shining in a tough spot. In the Individual All-Around finals, Voss hit the Floor Exercise first, scoring 12.866, and then took on the vault with a 12.500.

Next up were the uneven bars, where she posted a 12.333, followed by the balance beam with a 12.300. Despite a valiant effort, Voss finished 22nd overall with a total of 49.999. It’s been a rollercoaster ride, but she certainly made an impression, proving that even in the face of challenges, she’s got the heart of a champion.

She stated how she was proud to have been an Olympic finalist and to have called herself a two-time Olympian and Olympic all-around finalist. Voss thanked everyone who supported her journey, especially her loved ones, acknowledging that she couldn’t have achieved this without them. Sarah ended her note by saying, “Getting to experience this atmosphere and those brave and strong women is something I will never forget!” 

Well, amidst these struggles and her heartfelt praise for the sport’s camaraderie, Sarah Voss also experienced an unexpected warm gesture from Simone Biles!

Voss left in awe of Simone Biles’ sportsmanship at the Paris Olympics

Simone Biles doesn’t just win gold; she has a heart of gold. Though she was everyone’s biggest contender at the Team Finals and the All-Around event, a small gesture meant so much to Germany’s Sarah Voss. But while Simone made history on the podium at the Bercy Arena.

On the same day, she talked about her Lyme disease diagnosis, Voss took to her Instagram story to share how the American icon came forward unexpectedly when the German gymnastics team struggled to reach the arena. The 2022 European Championships team medalist penned, “Not only standing up for herself and her mental health but also fighting for us to get a seat (on) the overly packed bus toward the arena.”

While Voss commended the USA star for her efforts to help them reach their destination, the German also noted how Paris isn’t the most visitor-friendly place right now. “It was a 45-minute ride, and some non-athletes didn’t intend to make a move for us,” frowned the German.

In the story, Voss also shared a heart-shaped pin adorned with Biles’ signature. Despite being one of the most popular athletes, Biles cared enough about her fellow competitors to ensure their comfort, proving that even at the top, compassion remains paramount. Earlier, Voss’s teammate, three-time Olympian Pauline Schaefer-Betz, also shared an Instagram story showing off a pin she received from Simone Biles.

Pauline Schaefer-Betz took to Instagram to post a picture of the pin that Biles shared with her. “This one is special,” Shaefer-Betz wrote on her IG story.

For Sarah Voss, the Olympics will be memorable not for what she won, but for how she battled through despite health concerns. We wish her a speedy recovery and hope she gets back to performing at her best soon.