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“I’m Still Healing”- Simone Biles Opens Up On Her Journey Since Tokyo Olympics 2020

Published 04/27/2022, 10:15 AM EDT

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Simone Biles, America’s most decorated female athlete, recently commented on how she has grown lately. In an interview with ETalk, Biles shared what she has learned about herself over the course of the last year.

“It’s ok to not be ok,” Biles said, referring to her progress regarding the mental health issues that led her to withdraw from multiple Olympic events at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

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Simone Biles’ hiatus from gymnastics

Biles was diagnosed with ADHD as a child. Plagued with a case of the ‘twisties’, a phenomenon that causes gymnasts to lose sense of direction when in the air, Biles had withdrawn from multiple events back in July, 2021. Since then, the athlete has been on hiatus and recovering from her mental struggles.

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“For so long I kind of would tell myself that ‘Oh, I should be healed’, but there really is no timeline,” Biles claimed. “It doesn’t mean I’m weak, it just means I’m still healing.”

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During her hiatus, Biles has found herself in the role of a mental health advocate. She has spoken up frequently about the importance of taking care of yourself not only physically but also mentally as an athlete. This was one of the resounding themes of the Gold Over America Tour. She has gained massive support for her campaign against the stigma surrounding mental health. Despite the initial backlash from pulling out, it has been an upward trajectory with her fans and supporters.

A productive year for Biles

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In the same interview, Biles also talks about her upcoming wedding with Jonathan Owens, who plays for the Houston Texans in the NFL. The couple announced their engagement in February, after dating for nearly two years. On her break from competition, Biles is often seen at his games, cheering him on from the sidelines. The wedding is said to be next year.

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Biles also talked about her first signature collection of activewear with Athleta Girl. While the gymnast has been making an effort to recover from her health issues, the fans are happy to see her do well outside the arena. They are eagerly waiting for her return to competition, however, at her own pace.

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Written by:

Mansi Jain

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Mansi Jain is a US Sports author for EssentiallySports. She has a Bachelor's degree in Multimedia and Mass Communication from the University of Delhi and has previously interned for HT Media. When not online, Mansi can be found pursuing the shelves at the nearest bookstore.
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Edited by:

Deepakshi Chaudhary