Simone Biles shocked the world when she pulled out of the Olympics over mental health concerns. But Aussie Olympians have applauded the move.
With a combined total of 30 Olympic and World Championship medals, Simone Biles is considered by many to be the greatest female gymnast of all time.
Olivia Vivian was 19 years old when she made her Olympic debut as part of the women's artistic gymnastics team at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. “I remember being terrified to make a mistake, so there is no way I ever would have had the courage or the strength to do what Biles did last night.” Like Vivian, dual Olympian Georgia Bonora feels that gymnastics has come a long way since she competed in the 2008 and 2012 Games.
“It's devastating because you're a young adult and you've trained your whole life to get to the Olympic Games,” she said.Professor Rosemary Purcell, head of Orygen's elite sports and mental health program, said Biles’ decision to withdraw from the Olympics would’ve been “gut-wrenching” after five years of preparation.
“It’s sad to hear us as a public talk about someone only getting bronze because you think they're still the third best person in the world, which is just an astonishing feat in itself.”Professor Purcell said the pandemic has also brought on additional mental health stresses.
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