Simone Biles talked about the decision she made to pull out of several events at the Tokyo Summer Olympics in 2021 due to mental health concerns and said “walking away” from the Olympics, in the end, was her “biggest win.”
“Walking away from the Olympic Games was a win in itself,” Biles shared during the 43rd annual Simmons Leadership Conference, reported People magazine in a piece published Thursday.
“I know a lot of people thought I failed because they expected me to go out with five or six medals, but walking out of it was my biggest win,” she added. “I had to put myself into consideration for one of the first times throughout my career. Most of the time, I’ve always put myself on the back burner, because I’ve always cared and thought about everybody else before myself.”
“I was like, ‘You know what? I have to do what’s best for me, what’s safe, and what’s healthy for me,’” she added, as she explained how continuing to compete even though her “mind and body were not in sync” would’ve been “selfish.”
“That would be so selfish of me to put the team’s medal contention in jeopardy, put myself in jeopardy,” Biles continued. “I had to be like, ‘Simone, it’s okay. It’s not the end of the world, it’s just sports. If you walk away from this and you still are walking, that’s a win in your book.’”
Simone Biles Says Walking Out of Tokyo Olympics Event Was 'My Biggest Win' https://t.co/uQCCWlYv5u
— People (@people) April 14, 2022
The four-time Olympic gold medalist also called her decision to walk away from four out of five of the event finals “probably the most courageous” she’s ever been.
“I had worked for five years and I didn’t want to let that dream go,” Simone shared. “I had to put myself first, listen to my mind and body, what my heart was telling me to do. I had to put my pride aside and say, ‘Okay, this isn’t going to work.’”
Biles talked about how the restrictions due to the pandemic had changed the traditional experience of the Olympics, recalling it feeling “very lonely.”
“We go over to Tokyo and no audience is allowed, we’re quarantined in our rooms, and can only come out for breakfast, lunch and dinner,” the Olympian explained during the conference. “Everyone expected us to perform in a certain manner. There was no camaraderie, and my parents weren’t able to go there. My parents haven’t missed a competition in my life.”
“For the world to expect some of these athletes to go above and beyond when we’re all going through the same thing and trying to survive a pandemic was really strange for me mentally,” she added.
As previously reported by The Daily Wire:
Biles withdrew from several events, citing mental health concerns. The move drew criticism from many, including voices calling her a quitter for pulling out of the events.
“Definitely not the way I planned the olympics going but I wouldn’t change anything for the world. I’m proud of myself and the career I’ve had thus far. This olympics doesn’t erase the past accomplishments I’ve achieved nor does it define who I am as an athlete,” Biles posted to Instagram.
“I’ve pushed through so much the past couple years, the word quitter is not in my vocabulary,” Biles continued. “For some of you that may be how you define me but keep talking because I can’t hear you over my 7 olympic medals which tied me for the most decorated gymnast EVER as well as most decorated american [sic] gymnast.”
Related: Olympic Gold Medal Gymnast Simone Biles And Jonathan Owens Announce Engagement