At one point, I was so asleep” – Simone Biles on how to escape thoughts during dark times
Simone Biles’ career is truly legendary. From competing in the Olympics at age 19 to becoming the most decorated American gymnast, she has demonstrated unmatched talent and determination with groundbreaking routines. But his road to legend was riddled with challenges, including overcoming obstacles and the trauma of the Larry Nassar scandal, in which he was accused of sexually assaulting around 265 young women and girls while posing as a medical professional for the U.S. women’s gymnastics team. After that, the Nasser was sent to the Federal Prison for 60 years after testimony of some American gymnastics, including Bile. Legendary gymnasts are facing important obstacles after the Nassa Sas Candal, which deals with emotional results. In an interview with Tunbridge.com, Biles shared insight into his own struggles, explaining that excessive sleep was a way to escape his overwhelming thoughts.
“At one point, I slept a lot because, for me, that was the closest thing I could get to death without getting hurt. It was an escape from my thoughts, from the world, from everything I was facing. It was a really dark time. »
Gold medalist Simone Biles poses on the podium at the 2024 Olympic Games women’s gymnastics event at the Bercy Arena in Paris, France. (Photo credit: Getty Images)
Simone Biles competed in her second Olympic Games in 2020. However, she suffered a “crunch” (a phenomenon in which a gymnast loses synchronization between her body and mind) and had to withdraw from her final event. Since then, Biles has always maintained that her mental health should be prioritized before competing for medals, and in an interview after her third appearance in Paris, she said it was difficult to start treatment but she was grateful for the support she received. “It was never easy to work five years to achieve your dream and then have to give it up,” Biles said.
“I think at first, the hardest part is just convincing yourself to log in and go to the therapy session,” Biles said. “But once you see your therapist and start talking, it feels like you’re just chatting away the whole time. I’m very grateful for that.”
Simone Biles won four medals at the Paris Games, including three gold and one silver.
