A clamor, a sensational media coverage for the Simone Biles affair. Mixed emotions, conflicting opinions. Yet we are talking about something extremely simple: Simone, the American gymnast of records, the most decorated in history,decides to retire from the women's team final and the women's individual final, after having competed in the vault at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
“I have to focus on my mental health - she told the Associated Press - We also have to focus on ourselves, because at the end of the day, we are human too. We have to protect our mind and our body, rather than just go out there and do what the world wants us to do”.
Visualizza questo post su Instagram
The debate following this decision is incredible. And it is symptomatic of the fact that issues related to mental health are still considered with extreme distrust.
Beyond the madness of those who consider her a traitor to the “homeland”, for having “abandoned” America during the Olympics (righttt), the major criticism concerns the nature of Simone’s “inner demons”.
Visualizza questo post su Instagram
What inner demons can such a popular, beloved and privileged athlete carry? Yet this is precisely the problem. Simone has often spoken of the immense pressure created by such a high standard.
The world of sport, but also the world of work and the world of school, just some examples, often build a castle of expectations, for which we must always win, we must always be perfect and performing, otherwise it is the end. Every slightest failure is a stain that cannot be washed. But in fact we are human, we are not machines.
Although often sports narratives seem to be wrapped in a mythical tone, where sportsmen are superomistic divinities who can accomplish any feat. We often forget that medals are forged on an extremely tough lifestyle, made up of discipline, continuous exercise, lots of blood, sweat and tears. How many of the people who criticized Simone could sustain such a lifestyle?
And it seems obvious to say, but mind and body are closely connected and the quarrels of the soul are not whims of spoiled girls: they are real problems, often deeply rooted, which negatively affect everyday life and also attack the body, that encloses and amplifies them.
Visualizza questo post su Instagram
Mental health is SIMPLY health and putting a stop does not mean failing, but to take a breath, to listen to yourself, to get better and live better. It is not a question of “fragility”, like various media said, in a condescending and melodramatic way.
These girls who look strong but are delicate like flowers. There is nothing fragile in recognizing what is normal, human, which must not be hidden but be in the sunlight. And in Simone's act there is something absolutely heroic.
Visualizza questo post su Instagram
.jpg)