While Biles received some criticism, many, including other athletes, came out to laud her. Golf star Rory McIlroy was one such athlete who extended his support towards Biles and supported the gymnast’s decision to prioritize her mental health.
Speaking about Simone Biles’ decision, Rory McIlroy said that the pressure put on her was “massive.” He concured:
He also mentioned other athletes like Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka, who also chose their mental health over the sport, saying:
The golfer continued:
It is pertinent to note that Japanese tennis star Osaka had earlier skipped the French Open and Wimbledon citing mental health problems.
Rory lauds athletes who are doing their bit in de-stigmatizing mental health issues
McIlroy also brought up the fact that athletes are expected to power through their struggles for their country, but they will not be able to perform their best if they are not in a good frame of mind. He cited:
Rory McIlroy has also been quite open about his mental health. He has mentioned that his “off-course happiness” balances out his life.
Michael Phelps was another athlete who was supportive of Simone Biles’ decision to withdraw from the Olympic games. Phelps noted that he was sad about the pressure put on the athlete. The Olympic champion said the weight of the world can often be overwhelming, and that it was okay not to be okay.
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