5 mental health lessons we learned from the Olympics
THE REAL WINNER THIS YEAR: MENTAL HEALTH
By Kristina Benoist
(Bryan Turner / Unsplash)
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics were unlike any other Olympics we’ve seen before. For the first time at the games, we saw athletes bravely prioritizing their minds over medals, paving the way for very important conversations about mental health.
Over the past few years, Olympic athletes have been speaking out and reminding us that mental health is just as important as physical health. Simone Biles made the difficult decision to withdraw from the individual all-around gymnastics competition to focus on her mental health. As one of the best athletes in the world, this one action is causing a complete shift in the conversation about mental health moving forward. With Biles speaking out and Noah Lyles sharing his difficult journey with mental health after winning Bronze, these Olympics were all about mental health. There are so many lessons about mental health that all of us can be reminded of.
Know when you need to step back
After Biles got lost in the air during her vault and stumbled on her landing, she withdrew from the women's team final. She knew that it wasn’t safe for her to continue because she wasn’t in the right headspace. It was something only she could decide, and she trusted how she was feeling. Friends, family, coaches, therapists, and doctors will always have opinions, but you will always know yourself better than anyone else. Trust yourself and what you’re feeling.
Mental health is just as important as physical health
The Olympics have always been filled with injuries. Athletes have withdrawn from competition because of their physical health, and no one ever doubts or questions it. When Simone Biles withdrew, she proved that mental health should be considered and prioritized in the exact same way as physical health. If someone breaks an ankle, they do what they have to in order to heal. If someone is struggling with depression or anxiety, they should be allowed to heal in the same way.
Ignore the haters
Biles was met with an outpouring of support on social media. There were also people who were pretty critical of her choice. Unfortunately, that might always be the case. She showed strength in an incredibly difficult situation, and she did what she had to do to take care of herself — even knowing that people were going to disagree. Don’t forget that prioritizing your mental health is an act of bravery. People may be critical, but when you’re making the healthiest decision for you, other people’s opinions truly don’t matter.
You don’t have to be a GOAT to prioritize your mental health
Simone Biles is one of the greatest athletes of all-time. But she is also human. At the end of the day, that’s what we all are. Remember, prioritizing your mental health isn’t something you have to earn. It’s something everyone deserves, no matter your accomplishments. Achievements and medals don’t define you, and they certainly don’t define your mental health.
The conversation about mental health is changing
There are probably many other athletes that considered stepping down at past Olympics. Maybe they actually did and didn’t tell us why. Maybe they didn’t and were met with injuries. But one thing is certain, Simone Biles has normalized speaking up. And she will be an inspiration to many other people going through similar struggles moving forward. Haters on social media prove that the stigma is still alive and well, but her actions are already causing ripple effects and changing the conversation around mental health for the better.