Simone Biles, one of the greatest gymnasts in history, has earned 11 Olympic medals and 30 World Championship titles. Yet, despite her achievements, she still faces negativity online.
“That was hard for me to wrap my head around,” Biles, 28, said during her first visit to Hong Kong last week.
To protect herself from harsh online comments, Biles has learned to step away when needed. “When I’m not mentally well enough to read the comments, I turn them off or ignore them,” she explained. She also reminds herself that most critics are strangers who don’t truly know her. “They don’t know me, and they don’t know my character, so how can they judge through a screen?”
At an event hosted by UBS, Biles spoke to over 500 students about her record-breaking career and the importance of mental health under public pressure.
“As a professional athlete, taking care of your mental health is just as important as your physical health,” she said. “Elite athletes face a lot of mental effort when stepping onto the big stage to compete for their country. It’s an honor, but it can also be very tough.”
The training demands for athletes like Biles are intense. She and her team train 32 to 34 hours a week, with two workouts on weekdays, one on Saturday, and only Sunday off.
Her decision to withdraw from several events at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics surprised many. Biles cited a mental condition called the “twisties,” which disrupts a gymnast’s sense of control and rhythm and can cause serious injury.
Looking back, Biles views the decision positively. “It’s the most courageous I’ve ever felt,” she said. “The main reason I did it was to stand up for myself. I felt worth more than gold.”
A strong support system helped her through. “My team, family, nurses, doctors, and mental health specialists all understood,” she said. “Having people you trust to confide in really helps. They let me have bad days and cheer me up, and they uplift me on good days.”
Three years later, Biles competed at the 2024 Paris Olympics, winning three gold medals and one silver.
Biles also dedicates herself to mentoring children in foster care. She and her siblings entered foster care when she was three, after their biological mother struggled with substance abuse. Later, she was adopted by her grandfather and his wife.
“I never let what happened to me stop me from believing in my dreams,” she said. “It doesn’t matter how you start; it matters where your journey takes you and how you walk that path.”
She works with Friends of the Children, an organization that pairs at-risk children with mentors for long-term support. “Many think foster kids can’t do great things, but we’ve proven that’s not true,” she said. “Never let that define who you are.”
Students at the event said they were inspired. Fifteen-year-old Ila Chan, on Hong Kong’s gymnastics team since age nine, said she learned how to handle pressure better. “She should keep going because she’s an idol for many people,” Ila said.
Twelve-year-old Lexie Rhodes, who has done gymnastics for five years, said Biles’ talk encouraged her to recharge and take time to relax.
Biles values her role as a role model, especially for young athletes. Her advice: always have fun. “You never know how long your career will last,” she said. “So, dream big and dream bigger. As long as you’re having fun, you can accomplish anything and love what you do.”
Related Topics
