Quit to Leap: Simone Biles’ journey to true Greatness
#SimoneBiles Thank you! Thank you for showing the world that we need to protect our Minds & Bodies for ourselves first. You are a girl with a free spirit.
True freedom isn’t just about doing what we want — it’s about having the strength to say “No” to what we don’t want.
You said “No” at the 2021 Olympics, standing tall against a wave of public criticism and hate. And now, at the 2024 Olympics, you’ve said “Yes” and triumphed with all the gold medals, becoming a living legend in the history of gymnastics.
I admire your courage and bold stand to be truly free!
At the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, Simone Biles made the bold decision to step away from competition to prioritize her mental health. She had always been the most anticipated gold medalist in gymnastics, but in this moment, she chose her well-being over the world’s expectations. I still remember the wave of criticism, hatred and insults that followed. People called her weak, said she quit because she couldn’t handle the pressure. The comments were cruel, far worse than I can describe here… But through it all, Simone stood firm and said, “I made this decision for myself”.
At an event as big as the Olympics, which only happens once every four years, where it is boiled down to national pride, people expected Simone to stand up for her country, for the gold, for the glory. But Simone said, “No.” She knew that to sustain her career and her life, she had to take care of herself first.
And now Simone is back — stronger than ever, in body, mind and spirit. Every one of her performances at the 2024 Olympics has been spectacular, setting new records that have even been named after her. She is now the most decorated Olympic gymnast the world has ever seen. The Shero of the USA, gracing magazine covers and making headlines everywhere.
Who could have imagined that after four years of public criticism and doubt, this shero would once again stand tall on the podium? Wow, Simone Biles!
Simone’s journey has taught me three things:
1. “At the end of the day, we are human. We need to prioritize our minds and bodies”. Self-care is not selfish.
2. Taking a step back can be the best decision we can make to leap forward into greatness. Take the time to reflect, to pause, to step back…to clear the vision and the path to a better future.
3. Find joy in what we do for ourselves, not in meeting the expectations of others. True fulfillment comes from within, not from the applause of the crowd.
So what did you learn from the legendary Simone Biles?
