On July 27, it came as a shock to many when 24-year-old, 4-foot-8 Simone Biles – one of the best gymnasts in history, with a combined total of 30 Olympic and World Championship medals – took a step back from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after her shaky performance on the vault, during which she attempting to do two and a half spins – but instead did one and a half. In addition, Biles nearly fell while landing.

Afterward, she went over to her coaches and teammates, and soon thereafter, it was announced that Biles had dropped out of the team event. She did not want her performance to cost the team a medal.

Later, at a news conference, Biles stated, "I just felt like it would be a little bit better to take a back seat, work on my mindfulness. And I knew that the girls would do an absolutely great job." (The American women went on to win silver.)

"It's been really stressful, this Olympic Games," she continued. "I think just as a whole, not having an audience, there are a lot of different variables going into it."

The day prior to Biles' vault event, she had posted on Instagram that she felt as though "the weight of the world" was on her shoulders.

A July 28 USA Gymnastics announcement stated that Biles had further withdrawn from several individual competitions to focus on her mental health. The statement read: "We wholeheartedly support Simone's decision and applaud her bravery in prioritizing her well-being," and that "her courage shows yet again why she is a role model for so many."

Athleta's Chief Brand Officer Kyle Andrew, who sponsors Biles, issued a statement that said, "We stand by Simone and support her well-being both in and out of competition... Being the best also means knowing how to take care of yourself. We are inspired by her leadership today and are behind her every step of the way."

Ever heard of "the twisties?"
Leading up to the competition, Biles described how she felt shaky, and when she hopped on the vault during the team event, she started experiencing something that gymnasts refer to as "the twisties."

During the following days, Biles relayed to reporters that she had been having "a little bit of the twisties," which is a term used to describe the mental block (in most cases, out of nowhere) that can allow gymnasts to lose their sense of direction.

The twisties can be extremely dangerous, especially since it can mean that the athlete does not know how high they are, which direction they are going, and how hard they are going to land. Biles is very fortunate to have not been injured in competition, especially after discovering what was truly going on with her. If she hadn't landed in the way that she did, then she could have easily broken bones.

Biles continued to experience the twisties and has even posted some video footage to her social media accounts showing her practicing her gymnastics routines while suffering the condition.

Biles was qualified to compete in four individual event finals, and although she has dropped out of three, she competed in the balance beam event on Aug. 3.

The impact
Longtime fans of Biles cheered her on, as she took a step back to focus on her mental health. Her courage shows how mental and physical health go hand in hand, and that they are equally important to a one's safety and well-being.

"The outpouring love & support I've received has made me realize I'm more than my accomplishments and gymnastics, which I never truly believed before," said Biles on both Instagram and Twitter.

Furthermore, the fact that a Black athlete is initiating conversations surrounding mental health is starting to make waves. People of color are more likely to experience anxiety and depression and are far less likely to seek help in comparison to their white counterparts. Hopefully seeing Biles – one of the greatest gymnasts and a woman of color – put the Olympics on hold for her mental well-being will inspire other people of color – everyone in fact – to do the same.