More people than ever probably know who Simone Biles is. To many, she’s either the successful Olympic and world champion gymnast who needed to step away from recent competition in Tokyo due to some issues she was dealing with, or she’s the overhyped gymnast who quit on her team when things got tough.
The reactions I’ve seen fall somewhere in that range between support and criticism.
In this current sports age in which fans and the media love to proclaim someone currently active as the “GOAT” (“greatest of all time” such as Tom Brady, LeBron James, etc.), many also want to tear down the greats as much as they can.
With Brady, it was he “cheated,” lost to Eli Manning twice in Super Bowls, or various other personal details that have made him an easy target.
With James, it’s been he can’t win a title without a “super team” (a team made up of big-time free agents and trade acquisitions versus building organically through the draft) or that he’s not Jordan, Kareem, Magic, Bird, etc.
Now, the latest “GOAT” — Biles, who dominated the medal scene in the 2016 Olympics — had her target.
She “quit”.
A question of ‘guts’
When you’re the overwhelming favorite to sweep every gold medal competition you’re in and immortalize yourself as the “greatest” (Nadia who? Mary Lou who?) gymnast ever, there is no room for error.
A silver medal would be seen as a failure, much less not being able to compete at all.
Which takes more courage? Go out there when you know you might hurt yourself (in more ways than one) or your team’s medal chances, or step aside — knowing everyone is calling you the “greatest” — and saying “I can’t do this right now”?
We “Americans” love the notion of someone going out there — in a wide range of lift scenarios — to “fight” even if you get your backside whooped.
Strength, perseverance, and confidence are one thing, but so are taking care of yourself for the future and living to fight another day.
I’m sure Simone knew the full extent of the media spotlight would be on her once she stepped aside for the next few competitions.
She knew what every reporter or reporter wannabe would be asking her: “Why?” “What’s wrong?” “When are you coming back?” “How do you feel?”
Where everyone disagrees is, should Simone have competed, done her best, let the chips fall where they may, or stepped aside, let her teammates do what they could, and she herself, avoid any potential harm or danger?
Ultimately, isn’t that decision up to her?
Her decisions do affect a lot of people on Team USA, but a few of her teammates did very well and got their own gold medals, making the most of their chances to step up.
Decisions, decisions
I don’t think many of us, as much as we debate and argue, will ever know what the “right” decision was for Simone to make.
Again, that’s up to her.
While we can be disappointed we didn’t get to see her cement her status as the “GOAT,” we can be happy she took care of herself when she needed to.
Would it really have been worth us seeing her compete if she wasn’t 100 percent and something bad might have happened?
The Olympics will soon be over and we’ll move on to new things to argue about.
Maybe we’ll all become better people out of this and place a new emphasis on the importance of self-care when necessary.
There are things in life that aren’t worth quitting — taking care of your family, your prayer life, or going to school, but sometimes you have to know, and can’t exceed, your limits.
Take care of yourself, Simone, and we will support you, and do the same ourselves.