Simone Biles, celebrated as one of the greatest Olympians, recently opened up about the challenges she faces at the Olympic Village. Due to her immense popularity, even among her peers, Biles finds it difficult to enjoy a meal in the cafeteria without being swarmed for photos and autographs.
In a heartfelt TikTok video, Biles, 27, shared that the constant attention severely impacts her mental health. “Whenever I sat down to eat, my anxiety was so bad I was shaking. And I couldn’t stop shaking, and I was so overwhelmed,” she explained. To cope, Biles now stocks up on food from the store and avoids the cafeteria to minimize anxiety.
Biles has been a vocal advocate for mental health, especially after her experiences during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She faced a phenomenon known as the “twisties,” which disrupted her ability to perform and led her to withdraw from several events. This experience was so traumatic that Biles created a “forbidden Olympic closet” at home, storing items from her time in Tokyo, which she avoids to protect her mental well-being.
Simone Biles in Paris
Biles’ participation in the Paris Olympics symbolizes her resilience and commitment to overcoming mental health challenges. “Even touching it is like [winces]. But, you know, sometimes you have to take that power back,” Biles stated in her Netflix documentary, “Simone Biles Rising.”
For the second time in her extraordinary career, the unparalleled gymnast clinched the Olympic individual all-around final title, just two days after leading the U.S. women’s team to gold in the team event.
Unlike many of her past victories, this one was hard-earned. Biles had to recover from an unusually poor performance on the uneven bars that briefly dropped her to third place, behind strong competitors including Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade, widely regarded as the world’s second-best gymnast.
Despite this setback, Biles secured her sixth Olympic gold and her ninth Olympic medal overall, surpassing any other U.S. gymnast in history.
Simone Biles continues to inspire athletes worldwide, not just through her athletic prowess but also through her courage in addressing and overcoming mental health issues.