Simone Biles does not need any formal introduction. Having earned multiple medals, people hail Simone as the gymnastics GOAT. She was just six years old when she started her journey on the mat. Training under the guidance of her coach, Aimee Boorman, Simone climbed the success ladder at a very young age. With each medal that she won, the expectations grew further. Soon, she found herself amidst public scrutiny and constant media gaze.

The expectations were sometimes too overwhelming for her to tackle. It did not just affect her personal life but also took a toll on her mental well-being. As the mountain of problems grew, the young gymnast had no choice but to take a tough call. A choice that made her more vulnerable to harsh opinions.

Simone Biles emerged stronger 

It surprised everyone when, back in 2021, the officials of the USA Gymnastics announced that Simone would withdraw her name from the individual all-around competition at the Tokyo Olympics. The decision was based on her medical evaluation and her decision to focus more on mental health.

However, it was not the first time Simone had taken such a tough call. In 2012, the young gymnast took a step back from performing an ‘Amanar.’ The reason: she knew she lacked the skills. For choices like this, Simone always found herself at the receiving end.

Read More: “You Were Very Reluctant”: Despite Knowing She Needed Help, Simone Biles’ Parents Had to Force Her to Seek Treatment in 2013

People started to doubt her skills. But Simone, being Simone, drew inspiration from that. In an archived Tweet, the Olympian hits back at the people who questioned her capabilities with the perfect reply. She quoted, “love the doubters. makes me work harder 😤 so funny bc people use to sh** on me & my gymnastics big time! NEVER GIVE UP, KIDS🤎”

Simone shared her views on a re-tweet wherein a user shared several screenshots of people and their harsh opinions regarding her. Drawing inspiration from all the ‘questions,’ the gymnast eventually showed the world she was the convention breaker.

Simone: Choosing the Unconventional ways 

Simone Biles was never the one to follow others. She believed in breaking the convention and curved her way out. Be it her refusal to perform the Amanar or voicing her opinion clearly and loudly against the happenings at the training center. And she made sure that her voice was heard.

Her voice was too loud to be silenced. Regardless of the situation or what people will say, she prioritizes herself. Unlike many of her contemporaries, she talks about mental health and advocates its awareness. She may be away from the vault, but there’s no questioning her passion for the sport. She is truly an inspiration.

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