Simone Biles has 11 Olympic medals and 30 World Championship wins. She is considered one of the best gymnasts of all time. Still, even she has to deal with negativity online.
“That was hard for me to wrap my head around,” Biles, 28, told the audience during her first visit to Hong Kong last week.
Reading such harsh words can be difficult, so she has learned to protect herself.
“When I’m not mentally well enough to read the comments, I turn them off or ignore them,” she said. She also reminds herself that many of these people are strangers: “They don’t know me, and they don’t know my character, so how can they judge through a screen?”
Biles spoke to more than 500 students at the one-hour event hosted by UBS. She talked about her record-breaking career and maintaining her mental health under public pressure.
As a professional athlete, taking care of your mental health is just as important as your physical health, Biles explained.
“Elite athletes [face] a lot of mental effort to step onto the big stage and compete for your country. Obviously, it’s such an honour, but it can be really tough,” she said.
Knowing when to step back
The training schedule of a professional athlete is challenging. Biles and her team train 32 to 34 hours a week. They do two workouts on weekdays and one on Saturday, taking only Sunday off.
Considering all this effort, Biles stunned the world at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. She withdrew from several events, including the team final, all-around final, and individual event finals.
The reason for her decision was a mental condition called the “twisties”.
Having the twisties can make gymnasts feel like their rhythm is off and that they are not in control of their movements. It can lead to serious injuries.
Biles looks back on the experience positively. She is proud that she put her mental health first.
Sports psychologist discusses why teen athletes struggle to keep their head in the game
“It’s the most courageous I’ve ever felt,” she said. “The number one reason why I did it was to speak out and stand up for myself. I felt worth more than gold.”
Having a strong support system helped her feel confident about her decision. “My team, my family, the nurses and doctors and the mental health specialists, they all understood,” she said.
“Having people in your circle of trust that help you and you can confide in really, really helps,” she explained. “If I’m ever having a bad day, they let me have bad days, and they cheer me up. On the good days, they still uplift me.”
Biles competed at the 2024 Paris Olympics three years later. She took home three gold medals and one silver.
Meaning of mentorship
Biles is also passionate about supporting children in the foster care community.
She and her siblings entered foster care when she was only three years old. Their biological mother struggled with substance abuse. After a few years, Biles 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.”
For the last few years, she has worked with Friends of the Children. The organisation partners with community organisations, schools, and foster care systems. They pair children in need of long-term, nurturing relationships with an older friend who acts as their mentor.
“A lot of people think that foster kids can’t do great things, but I think we’ve proven over so many years [we can]. Never let that determine who you are,” she said.
‘Fly High’ charity sports programme gets Hong Kong youth moving
Students who listened to her story said they were inspired. Fifteen-year-old Ila Chan has been on the Hong Kong gymnastics team since she was nine. She said her biggest takeaway was learning how to handle high-pressure situations.
“She should keep going because she’s an idol for lots of people around the world,” Ila said.
Lexie Rhodes, 12, has been doing gymnastics for around five years. She said she felt encouraged to recharge. She also learned the importance of letting off steam and taking the time to relax.
Biles appreciates the chance to serve as a role model, especially for young athletes. She offered up a tip for staying motivated and avoiding burnout: make sure you’re always having fun.
“You never know how long your career is gonna last,” she said. “So I would say to just have fun. Dream big, and then dream bigger after that. As long as you’re having fun, you can accomplish anything and love what you do.”
