Simone Biles has revealed why she was forced to pull out of the women’s gymnastics team final, reports Sky Sports.
Biles is widely considered one of – if not THE – greatest gymnasts of all-time.
She’s certainly the most decorated, with her olympic medal haul going some way to ensuring that.
Naturally, Biles was considered the major favourite to win all of the gold medals on offer to women gymnasts at Tokyo 2020, with the American having reached all five finals.
However, she has encountered difficulty at her first event, the women’s gymnastics team final, which she was forced to withdraw from in order to protect her mental health.
Sky Sports transcribe the full quotes from Biles, which are worth a read for everyone who doesn’t understand that their words on social media do carry weight.
MORE: Simone Biles’ Tokyo 2020 in jeopardy after pulling out of team finals with apparent ‘mental issue’
“Just a little injury to my pride. After the performance I did, I just didn’t want to go on. I have to focus on my mental health.”
“I just think mental health is more prevalent in sports right now… we have to protect our minds and our bodies and not just go out and do what the world wants us to do.”
“I don’t trust myself as much anymore… maybe it’s getting older. There were a couple of days when everybody tweets you and you feel the weight of the world.”
“We are not just athletes, we’re people at the end of the day and sometimes you just have to step back.”
“I did not want to go out and do something stupid and get hurt. I feel like a lot of athletes speaking up has really helped.
“It’s so big, it’s the Olympic Games, at the end of the day we don’t want to be carried out of there on a stretcher. You have to be there 100 per cent or 120 per cent or you’re going to hurt yourself.”
We can only hope that Biles is able to overcome what she’s suffering through and will go on to taste glory at Tokyo 2020. She deserves it.