‘Wanted to Run Away and Hide.’- When Chris Evert Made a Mental Health Confession Right After Simone Biles’ Controversial Olympics Move

Chris Evert is believed to be one of the most influential female athletes in tennis history. The 18-time Grand Slam champion managed to reach unbelievable heights that had never been reached before. 

However, the 67-year-old had to go through a lot of hard times during her early years. She even had to endure many mental issues that most top players deal with. In one particular instance, she was seen responding to a fan on social media regarding Simone Biles’ decision to pull out of the Olympics, citing the mental health issue.

Chris Evert responded to a fan’s question on Simon Biles’ Olympics decision

The four-time Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles made a shocking announcement in 2020. She took the decision to pull out of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics games. And the reason for that was her mental health.

Owing to this particular event, Chris Evert replied to a fan’s question on Simone Biles’ unexpected decision to withdraw from the Olympics. She said, “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…”

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Eventually, Biles pulled out from the vault finals, uneven bars, floor, and the individual all-around competition. In her opinion, the pressure to perform well at the Olympics weighed her down.

Evert takes the initiative by spreading awareness on mental health 

On the occasion of World Mental Health Day, Evert turned to Twitter to show her support for modern athletes by drawing attention to the unique mental issues they face. The 18-time Grand Slam winner acknowledged that players’ emotions matter and calls for more discussion on mental issues.

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While all elite athletes are under tremendous pressure to succeed, tennis players may feel particularly alone due to the sport’s lack of team spirit. Also, they lack the moral support that teammates in other sports provide.