Simone Biles prioritizes mind over sport in Tokyo 2:54
(CNN) -
Simone Biles, the American gymnast who withdrew from tryouts at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics to prioritize her mental health, thanked fans for their "love and support" amid a deluge of praise and good wishes from people all over the world.
The 24-year-old, one of the greatest gymnasts of all time, withdrew from Thursday's individual all-around competition on Wednesday.
Earlier in the week he had pulled out of a dramatic team competition earlier in the week.
Biles claimed it was about mental health problems and the need to protect "his body and his mind."
In a tweet posted Wednesday, Biles referred to the support he has received from fans since then and said it had shown him that he was "more" than his sporting achievements.
"The outpouring of love and support that I have received has made me realize that I am more than just my accomplishments and gymnastics, something I have never really believed in," said Biles.
the outpouring love & support I've received has made me realize I'm more than my accomplishments and gymnastics which I never truly believed before.
🤍
- Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) July 29, 2021
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The governing body for US Gymnastics (USA Gymnastics) said in a statement Wednesday that it supported his decision "wholeheartedly" and applauded his "courage."
"His courage shows, once again, why he is a role model for so many," he said.
ANALYSIS |
The problem that Simone Biles exposed
Biles' surprise departure
Biles, who had been one of the favorites to win gold in the final, has won every individual all-around competition she has participated in since 2013 and won four gold medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
But on Tuesday, while attempting an advanced jump that involves a backhand jump with two and a half turns in the air before landing, Biles hesitated and left the playing field on the verge of tears.
Stigma about mental health care 5:39
Earlier in the week she wrote on Instagram that she felt "the weight of the world on [her] shoulders sometimes."
"I know I dissimulate and make it seem like the pressure doesn't affect me, but damn it, it's hard sometimes hahaha!" He wrote in the post.
His honesty about the pressure of competition and mental health has been supported by other athletes, as well as sponsors such as Visa, American Airlines and Uber Eats.
Support from an ex-partner of Simone Biles
Three-time Olympic gold medalist and former teammate Aly Raisman is one of the people who have expressed their support for Biles.
Raisman criticized USA Gymnastics and the United States Olympic Committee for a lack of leadership in supporting athletes.
He said the athletes were "people at the end of the day."
ANALYSIS |
Mental health is high in the news from Tokyo to Washington
"USA Gymnastics has been an absolute disaster for years and sadly, it hasn't changed enough for us to believe in a more secure future. But I think this really shows the lack of leadership [from] USA Gymnastics and the Olympic Committee of United States, "he told CNN's Jake Tapper on Tuesday.
"Does Simone have the support she needs?" Raisman continued.
"Do other athletes have the support they need?"
She added: "It is a tremendous pressure ... I am completely devastated and I support her very much."
Paula Radcliffe, the former Great Britain team runner who was branded a "defector" when she was forced to withdraw from the 2004 Athens Olympic marathon a few kilometers before the finish line due to injury, spoke of her own experience in an interview with CNN this Wednesday.
"Neither of us quit. Our bodies just weren't capable of doing it," Radcliffe said.
"Very few people really understand the relationship between your mind and your body ... particularly in something that is really demanding physically, or mentally, or both ... you really need to know when to push and when to listen to your body. , and that's what has made her the great champion that she is, "he added.
"I'd say he's even stronger mentally for being able to make that decision now," Radcliffe said of Simone Biles.
CNN journalist sends harsh message to critics of Biles 5:13
Naomi Osaka's background
Sports stars are becoming more open about the pressures they face.
In May, Naomi Osaka, a four-time tennis champion, withdrew from the French Open due to mental health reasons.
The 23-year-old revealed that she had suffered from anxiety and depression.
"The truth is, I have suffered long bouts of depression since the US Open in 2018 and it has been very difficult for me to deal with that," he said in a statement at the time.
"Anyone who knows me knows that I am an introvert, and anyone who has seen me at tournaments will notice that I am often wearing headphones as that helps to numb my social anxiety," he added.
- CNN's Ivana Kottasová, Josiah Ryan, Ben Church, Jill Martin and Chauncey Alcorn contributed to this report.
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