Sports and Mental Health

The beauty of Simone Biles’s Olympic performance 2021 is not only that she had the courage to speak up about mental health challenges, pause, and still earn a bronze, but also that: (a) she took initiative before a crisis; (b) she had support of coaches and loved ones; and © she had the ability to recognize that her identity does not depend on public perception.

This 24-year-old Olympic icon stands 4 feet 8 inches — but she has no shortage of clarity. As a 30-time Olympic and World Championship winner, she affirms that victory requires paying attention to mind, body, spirit, nutrition, sleep, and focus.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. lives with a mental health condition. And 99% of adults have a loved one living with mental health conditions. These statistics predate the pandemic; numbers are rising. Genetics and environmental factors affect mental health. During competitions, athletes typically holler “man on, got it, give and go.” Being able to communicate ‘I need to sub out’ indicates leadership, maturity, and grit. As Osaka, Biles, and Phelps defy stigma and courageously advocate, they inspire next-gen athletes. Sometimes it pays to pause instead of push (Bonesteel, Washington Post, 8/7/21).

Mom Nellie Biles supported her daughter via facetime. “This was not the time for twisties, for the brain…