Everything surrounding the demented Larry Nasser and that sickening story is abhorrent. But that doesn't excuse going through all of the preliminary events and processes leading up to the Olympic Games and then quitting when a result isn't up to par.
Ms Biles deserves respect, not contempt. Some people think she choked. Some say she ruined her legacy. These same people are those that will swear if Tom Brady or LeBron James had walked out on their teams during the SB or game 7 of the NBA Finals they would be mercilessly ripped, shredded, so why give Simone a free pass? That is what some will ask. When Ms Biles, probably the greatest female Gymnast ever, bravely withdrew from team competition because she was overcome by the pressure. She admitted it. Following that, an ugly truth emerged.
Some saw her as cowardly, others viewed it as traitorous. Many sports fans who idolize their favorite athlete as sucking it up or the proverbial "ice water in their veins," were offended.
Imagine if Brady or LeBron had lousy 1st qtrs and they decided to stay out of the game. It wouldnt matter if they sat on their respective benches and rooted for their team mates till the end. "They destroyed their legacies forever". that is what folks who call Simone cowardly and traitorous would draw parallel to Brady and King James.
To which I would say QUIET. SHUT THE HELL UP.
#1 there is no comparison to a Simone Biles vs any athlete in a team sport. She doesnt represent a city or state. She's carrying the weight of an entire country. She doesnt compete with team mates that ball her out, she on her own. She isnt working with a 100yd Football field or the length of the Basketball court. She operates on a 4 inch balance beam. Instead of playing a 16 game season or 162 game season for MLB, she wins or loses in 90seconds.
So its OK to excuse NBA players for meltdowns in 2020---mental health issues plagued the Clippers last season their season came to screeching halt, yet Biles is not???? She had a meltdown, she admitted it. So what??? The same for Tennis star Naomi Osaka who acknowledged her own mental health issues during the recent French Open and again when she was upset in the 3rd round of the Olympic tournament this past week.
We need to remember mental health issues are, in fact, medical issues.
Biles and Osaka are not some wind up toy. She is human and if her mental state wasnt there, her body would not have been there. The result will be serious injury or worse.
We dont know what Biles plans are for the next Olympics. Maybe she wont and call it a career, but she shouldnt have to prove her strength to anybody.