Outspoken gymnastics champ Biles praised: ‘Mental health is more important than sport’

The four-time Olympic gold medalist in 2016 started jumping and seemed to injure herself. She left the hall and came back with duct tape. According to the American Gymnastics Association, Biles is unable to take any action due to a medical problem. “Its status is now being considered on a daily basis,” the union said. Biles himself said it was about “mental issues”.

She later gave a detailed explanation at a press conference. I started ‘I’ve never experienced anything like this before. These games are so stressful. It’s been a long week anyway, long process, long year. The warm-up still went well, but then I was shivering and shivering.When I got out, I already felt: No, the mental part is not okay. That’s why I had to leave it up to the other girls. It was better to back off.”

In the United States (and indeed in the entire sports world) there is a lot of praise for Biles’ decision and frankness. “Am I going to take action later? We’ll have to wait and see.” It also came with an important message. “We have to protect the body and the mind, because in the end mental health is more important than sports.”

gold for russia

Bills qualified for all gymnastics finals. But without her, the United States could not win a gold medal. The Russian gymnastics team took advantage of her absence. Vladislava Orazova, Victoria Listonova, Angelina Melnikova and reserve Lilia Achimova scored 169,528 points after the four parts, which is good for her first women’s Olympic title in 29 years. American gymnasts, who have triumphed in 2012 and 2016, have just passed 166,096. Bronze went to Great Britain. The Netherlands did not reach the final.