Simone Biles prioritizing her mental health over Olympic glory will be a topic of discussion for years to come. The decision has inspired a generation of athletes and professionals and will continue to do so in the future. However, it was not just Biles who went through such internal chaos. It was only after she took a stand for herself that the other athletes followed suit and began embracing their mental health vulnerabilities.

While some criticized Simone Biles for her stance, others openly supported her decision. Subsequently, legends like Serena Williams, Michael Phelps, and Tom Brady praised her for her bold decision. However, there was one other name who identified herself with what Biles was going through. It was the tennis icon Christine Evert.

Chris Evert on Biles’ Tokyo Olympics withdrawal

After the Tokyo Olympics incident, a fan on Twitter asked Evert, “Would love to hear what @ChrissieEvert thinks of the Simone Biles situation? Did Chris ever have a panic attack before or even during a match?” In response to a question, she wrote, “Yes, there were times when I wanted to run away and hide …..in the woods… anywhere… It’s overwhelming, but we didn’t have communication or information in those days about mental health…”

Obviously, mental health breakdowns are not a recent phenomenon. Perhaps it has been there since the dawn of civilization.

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However, Biles gave people the validation they were seeking for years. She set an example that it’s all right to choose oneself over something as important as the Olympics.

Simone Biles set an example for generations to come

Biles’ legacy will not be her Olympics and world championships glory, but what she did to help millions of people. Of course, an athlete like her comes once in a century. However, more than being a gymnastics G.O.A.T., she has given voice to the people who were suffering in silence.

The world will often talk about Biles as one of the greatest gymnasts ever, but they will remember her as an icon, a role model that showed how important it is to choose oneself over everything else in life.

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