Simone Biles

We all know Simone Biles as an incredible gymnast and athlete. Being the first female gymnast to win four all-around titles at the World Gymnastics Championships is nothing to sneeze at. Yet to many people, Biles is not just an Olympic champion, she is also a mental health advocate and role model. 

When asked about her mental health in a recent interview, Biles explained that childhood experiences with sexual abuse left her “very depressed… I never left my room, I was sleeping all the time.” She elaborates, saying that the resurfacing of these memories during the trial of former USA Gymnastics and Michigan State doctor Larry Nassar heightened these emotions. During the trial, Biles “told one of [her] lawyers, 'I sleep all the time because it's the closest thing to death.'" In addition, after a hacker publicly released her medical records in 2016, Biles tweeted, “Having ADHD, and taking medicine for it is nothing to be ashamed of [and] nothing that I'm afraid to let people know.” 

Despite these difficult situations, Biles refuses to let anything take away the joy she feels when she competes. She has found that for her, coping with her past abuse through therapy and surrounding herself with supportive and loving people allows her to keep “good, positive vibes so that I can keep and stay healthy." Even though she admits that going to the gym some days can be harder than others, her support system helps her continue to do the sport that she loves so much. Her advocacy for therapy and her openness about ADHD and her past traumas makes Biles a role model for struggling kids and athletes alike. With that in mind, next time you watch Simone Biles flip and jump effortlessly, remember that she is still a human being just like you.