From Tokyo 2020 to the upcoming Paris Olympics, gymnastics has flipped on its head! Reason: Only and only “The Simone Biles influence”. Cast your mind back to 2021. As Simone Biles entered Tokyo’s Ariake Gymnastics Centre, she bore the weight of the world on her shoulders. As the linchpin of the U.S. Olympic team, she carried her nation’s hopes for gold. Revered as the undisputed titan of gymnastics, she balanced expectations of athletic prowess. With seeming ease, she made it all look like child’s play until she pulled out, breaking hearts, shattering expectations, and leaving everyone in disbelief!

Well, when she explained her struggle with the twisties, it seemed reasonable. But in a flash, opinions shifted from lauding her as the GOAT to labeling her a ‘selfish sociopath‘ and ‘shame to this country‘. Critics even dubbed her ‘quitter of the year‘.

Did this affect Biles? Not a bit. True to herself, she prioritized her mental health, returning with a spirit that made it seem like she never left. Her actions sparked a much-needed change in gymnastics, leaving a lasting positive impact which was explained by a physician of the USA women’s gymnastics team.

On July 13th, a podcast titled ‘Dying to Ask’ Full Episode Podcast: Simone Biles, Mental Health, and Life as an Olympic Doc with Dr. Marcy Faustin” aired on the KCRA 3 YouTube channel. Host Deirdre Fitzpatrick welcomed Dr. Marcy Faustin, co-head team physician for USA Women’s Gymnastics, who will be attending her 2nd Olympics in Paris. Fitzpatrick asked Dr. Faustin, “Do you notice more openness, even with your patients here, in terms of talking about the mental health part of their overall health since Tokyo?”

Dr. Faustin responded assuredly, “I do think so. And I think especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, when mental health was really, really difficult and we saw rising numbers in anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, and deaths by suicide, it was a really challenging time. I think for people to see those who are great, be human and say that they need help, then they felt comfortable to come and ask for help and for us to help find those resources and to allow them to be heard.”

Dr. Faustin’s Olympic journey started at the Tokyo Games. Initially focused on protecting athletes from COVID-19 and injury, she encountered an even more profound challenge when Simone Biles withdrew from competition to prioritize her mental health.

Simone’s decision highlighted the importance of prioritizing self-care despite the immense pressures from the gymnastics community, the Olympics, and global expectations, noted Faustin. Her brave stance gave others the courage to come forward and talk about their own mental health challenges. Termed ‘the Simone effect,’ this wave of openness resonated throughout the Games and beyond, empowering athletes to break the ice on the psychological toll of training and competition.

Faustin emphasized that safeguarding mental health is as crucial as physical well-being, with athletes routinely leaning on sports psychologists and receiving additional support from the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee during the Games. But after Biles, everyone shared their stories with their twisties!

Simone Biles’ impact on mental health awareness

Since the Tokyo Olympics, Simone Biles bravely shared her personal experiences with twisties. Back in a 2021 Instagram post, Biles wrote, “It’s okay to not be okay. It’s okay to ask for help. It’s okay to take a break.” Her advocacy emphasizes the parity of mental and physical health. Beyond her online presence, Biles has lent her voice to numerous public service ads promoting mental health awareness.

Biles joins a growing cadre of elite athletes prioritizing mental health in sports. Michael Phelps has candidly discussed his battles with depression, anxiety, and thoughts of suicide. Similarly, Olympic gold medalist swimmer Simone Manuel has opened up about her struggles with depression. Fellow gymnasts Aly Raisman and Laurie Hernandez have also added their voices to the mental health conversation.

As Simone Biles prepares for her 3rd Olympics, her journey shows that gymnastic athletes are also human. “This is definitely our redemption tour,” she said. But also stresses the importance of reaching out for support with mental health challenges, showing that it’s okay to turn over a new leaf when facing difficulties. Notably, she’s also made it clear that this comeback is not to prove any anonymous critics wrong, but “just to remind myself that I can still do it.”