When Michael Phelps supported Simone Biles in her decision to withdraw from
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About a year back, Simone Biles sent shockwaves across the continent with her decision to withdraw from the women’s gymnastics team final at the Tokyo Olympics.
Biles, widely considered one of the greatest gymnasts of all time, bowed out of the finale after a botched vault routine. She later stated publicly that it was due to mental health problems.
She later told reporters that she was “okay,” and reportedly was having some mental health issues. Former Olympic athlete Michael Phelps, also considered a legend in his sport, came out in support of Simone Biles.
He stated that Biles’ condition broke his heart. He went on to comment how “the weight of the world” can often be “overwhelming” for Olympians, especially at a grand stage like the Olympics.
Michael Phelps also said that he hopes that Simone Biles’ situation is an eye-opening experience for everyone and people start taking greater care of mental health issues of athletes.
What did Michael Phelps say in support of Simone Biles?
Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, has been a long-term advocate of mental health among athletes and sportspeople. He even spoke extensively on mental health struggles in the HBO Sports documentary The Weight of Gold.
He himself dealt with such problems for a long time during the latter part of his career.
Speaking to host Mike Tirico about Simone Biles’ withdrawal, he said:
“We’re humans, right? We’re human beings. Nobody is perfect so yes, it is okay to not be okay. It’s okay to go through ups and downs and emotional roller coasters…But I think the biggest thing is we…
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