How ‘Limiting Social Media’ Helped Simone Biles Bounce Back
By Movieguide® Contributor
Gymnast Simone Biles is focusing on her mental health as she prepares for this summer’s 2024 Paris Olympics.
“I’m a little bit older, more mature, so [I’m] just being unapologetically me,” she said in an interview with TODAY. “I would say the only thing I have to prove is to myself that I can get out there and do it again.”
Biles continued, “As long as I was having fun and doing what I love, then that’s all that you can do, because I don’t want to look back 50 years from now and be like, ‘Wow, she was good, but she was so miserable.’”
Part of staying in a good headspace for Biles is “limiting social media” and going to therapy.
“I think before I was kind of pushing down my trauma, and now I’ve learned to speak on it and kind of release that,” she explained. “I think we used to think of therapy as a weakness, and now I think of it as a strength.”
Biles is one of the most notable names in women’s gymnastics — at age 27, she is the oldest female Olympic gymnast in 72 years. She’s also just one of four American women gymnasts who have competed in three Olympic Games.
“I think with everything I’ve been through, I want to push the limits, I want to see how far I can go,” she shared. “I want to see what I’m still capable of so once I step away from this sport, I can truly be happy with my career and say I gave it my all.”
Biles is also excited to bring her husband, Chicago Bears safety Jonathan Owens, along for the ride this summer.
“We love the time we get to share together, but we’re always rooting for each other, on and off the field,” she told Elle of the athletic couple’s relationship.
Movieguide® previously reported on the US women’s gymnastics team:
Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles and her fellow USA gymnastics team are ready for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Biles and her teammates — Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey and Hezly Rivera — joined TODAY’s Hoda Kotb to discuss their goals and aspirations ahead of the big event.
“Deja vu, but also I feel like a little bit of a redemption tour,” Biles told Kotb. “In Tokyo, we all didn’t have our best performances, so we’re excited to go out there and kill it.”
Kotb alluded to the fact that sometimes the Olympic Trials are tougher than the actual Olympics.
“Because of the depth that the U.S. has. It’s so incredible, so we’re all fighting for basically the same position,” Biles explained. “But that’s what makes Team USA Team USA. We have grit, we have power, we have grace. We kind of have everything. So [we’re] just fighting for that spot.”
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