“Put your mental health first,” – these words by Simone Biles ring true to the times we live in where every athlete out there is one step close to a mental breakdown due to an amalgam of reasons. Being an athlete comes with its own set of emotional, mental and physical baggages. With them performing on the global stage representing their countries, the spotlight does not only fall on the wins and gold medals. It’s equally on their failures as it’s on their successes. And this often brings to the forefront the mental fortitude of the athletes. The Tokyo Olympics hit a major turning point while the gymnastics queen, Simone Biles, made a brave decision to prioritize her mental well-being over victories. Due to the unwarranted chinks in her armor, she received a lot of flak for not bringing America the gold to being cowardly and whatnot, but luckily she’s had someone to call home. 

Back in 2021, this news created ripples and sent shockwaves in the sports realm. And amid these, another Olympian from the U.S. took a courageous step to address another pressing issue. The American swimmer, who is also Simone Biles’ namesake, took to social media to throw a light on the media’s role in building and affecting an athlete’s mindset. And before the Paris Olympics, Simone Manuel has also reflected on how she has developed a great camaraderie with Biles as they both aim for gold.

Simone Manuel is a harbinger for Simone Biles 

27-year-old Simone Manuel’s X post from 2021 sparked a critical conversation about the post-competition ritual of immediate interviews. Manuel reflected on how after an event, athletes, often at their most vulnerable position, are thrust into the public eye without a moment to gather their thoughts or emotions. Manuel wrote, “Please stop interviewing athletes right after a disappointing performance before they have any time to process anything. Trust me. They gave it their all. Nothing else people need to know at that time.” The post garnered mixed reactions from fans, sports enthusiasts, and media personalities. 

While many supported her opinion, several others emphasized on the fact that without journalism playing its role, athletes won’t get the desired exposure. Besides this, users added how fans too deserve to know as they represent a country and are public figures. To these negative comments, Manuel wrote, “The amount of people who say we’re just sore losers or that we are “obligated” to do the interviews is problematic. Lack of empathy for athletes is problematic… To look at us as humans with emotions. It’s mentally and emotionally exhausting to coherently answer questions while trying to process the fact that people already saw you fall short of the goals you worked so hard for on the world’s biggest stage.” Manuel tried to throw light on how such interviews might lead to potential repercussions on their mental health. 

But it wasn’t just Simone Biles who had to fight against mental health barriers before she took up a courageous step and withdrew from the Tokyo Olympics. It’s not just their names that Manuel and Biles share in lieu of common ground. In June 2021, Simone Manuel got candid about her depression and insomnia. Because of over-training syndrome, Manuel was led to such a distressing scenario. 

Manuel and Biles unite over shared struggles and golden ambitions for Paris 2024

Simone Manuel shared how her body dealt with a terrible condition that ultimately resulted in her loss in the U.S. Olympics’ swimming trials. Manuel shares the same line of struggle with Biles. While Manuel is the first black female swimmer to win an individual gold in the Olympics, Biles too has been bullied because of her color. The two au naturals are aiming for a golden comeback in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“Simone Biles and me are practically the same person”, shared Manuel while narrating her experience after meeting with Biles. While Manuel narrated how she instantly became a “great friend” with Biles after hanging out together a couple of times, she also shared their future goals. “We are both excited to be here and now we are both taking gold medals home”, said Manuel. While this interaction is from way back, their paths are destined to cross in the City of Love as we await with bated breath if they both successfully cast out their demons and clinch victory.