Four-time Olympic gold medallist Simone Biles has announced that she is withdrawing from the individual all-around gymnastics final in Tokyo.

Biles said she had to think about her mental health after pulling out of the women’s team final on Tuesday.

‘After the performance I did, I just didn’t want to go on. I have to focus on my mental health. I just think mental health is more prevalent in sports right now,’ said Biles in a press conference.

‘We have to protect our minds and our bodies and not just go out and do what the world wants us to do.

‘We’re not just athletes. We’re people at the end of the day and sometimes you just have to step back.’

Her words were incredibly powerful.

It is no small thing to step away from the possibility of Olympic medals when you have trained your whole life for those moments, and you have the spotlight of the world’s media watching you.

Biles’ decision to put her mental health first echoes the moment Naomi Osaka withdrew from the French Open in June, citing mental health struggles – namely anxiety and depression – for why she chose not to do media interviews and her subsequent withdrawal.

For Black women, witnessing superstars like Biles and Osaka take a stand to protect their own wellbeing has been transformative and empowering. They tell us just how important it is to see these influential role models pushing back against the ‘strong Black woman’ trope.

‘It’s time we put an end to this dangerous stereotype,’ says actress and artistic director Maisey Bawden.

‘Simone Biles just showed us that her mental wellbeing is paramount. Opening up about mental health is not a weakness, it’s a strength, and strong leadership is also knowing when to step back and say, “I can’t do this right now.”

‘We must address this “show must go on” mentality in sport and so many other high-profile industries. It’s vital to see Black Women prioritising their peace and saying no. It is empowering.’

Psychologist Lee Chambers says it would be wrong to view the decisions made my Biles and Osaka as failures. In fact, he says, walking away can be a signifier of true strength.

‘It is great to see that the authentic vulnerability shown, that some will laude as weakness and failure, is actually the igniter of awareness for Black women and girls around the world,’ Lee tells Metro.co.uk.

‘They have carved a chair and pulled it up to the pinnacle of world sports, and are now having their say, igniting the reality for Black women and girls to that they deserve to be well and should feel confident in setting healthy boundaries.’

In the UK, people from Black, Asian and other ethnic minority communities have a higher risk of developing mental health conditions than white people – but they are less likely to be able to access mental health services.

Black Brits are four times more likely to be sectioned than white patients, and ethnic minority patients are more likely to be given medication than be offered talking therapies like counselling or psychotherapy.

Many Black women know what it feels like to be questioned, not believed, or ridiculed for opening up about their mental health.

Some hope that the actions of Biles and Osaka will help to normalise this conversation and create space for Black women to speak more openly about their experiences of mental illness.

‘I was never really one to prioritise my mental health before now,’ says lifestyle blogger Ebun Oluwole.

‘But then the pandemic happened, as well as the subsequent lockdowns, and I started to experience real mental breakdowns for the first time in my adult life.

‘This has forced me to acknowledge my mental health and prioritise it.

‘So, when I see younger Black women like Simone and Naomi prioritise their mental health – regardless of the insane pressure they’re both under – instead of judging them or putting them down with words, I empathise with them.

‘I also applaud them because they’re setting an example for young women all over the world to start to pay closer attention to their mental wellbeing. Just because the world is watching and everyone is expecting them to win, if they both aren’t in the mental capacity to compete, they won’t and I’m so glad they’re taking this stance.’

Burnout prevention consultant Subira Jones, believes the harmful stereotypes that exist about Black women are a key reason why it is so difficult to have conversations about mental wellbeing – and why women like Simone Biles face criticism and judgement when they do.

‘Black women are incredibly strong and resilient, both in nature, but more exhaustingly out of necessity to navigate this world we live in,’ Subira tells Metro.co.uk.

‘However, when people call us “strong” it suggests that we are meant to be able to tolerate harmful environments, without complaint.’

Subira recalls being referred to as a ‘strong Black woman’ when she completed her degree while her mum was in a coma, before starting her first job four days after her mum’s funeral.

‘I needed to step away. But the thought of it alone triggered anxious thoughts,’ she says.

‘I had fear of being seen as incapable. But the truth is, I was losing a part of myself. It took being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis before I realised this resilience was killing me.

‘Unfortunately, I was not alone in this experience. Many professionals struggle to take the sick leave they deserve out of fear that they will be met with professional ramifications (whether perceived or real).

‘For Black women, this struggle is amplified since we know we have two strikes against us. One for being Black and another for being a woman.

‘Simone and Naomi’s decision to step away would have been seen as brave if they were not perceived as “strong Black women”. Instead, it was seen as an act of defiance from many, but I saw it as revolutionary.’

Lee Chambers adds that Simone Biles’ decision will have been the most painful of statements for self-care. He says you shouldn’t underestimate the importance of showing vulnerability and sensitivity when you are in a prestigious and influential position.

‘Sometimes, the stigma of the word “quitting” portrays the complete opposite,’ says Lee.

‘Imagine you are the poster girl. The hero of a nation. Revered and feared by the competition. You’ve been through the sport’s fundamental issues with systemic abuse from a young age. You’re a woman of colour held up as the example for many other young gymnasts, and example of “Black excellence” and triumph.’

Lee applauds Biles for having the self-awareness to know she’s not in the mental space to be at her best. He says it is moments like this that humanise the people behind the performance, and that is an important message for all Black women.

‘Seeing both Naomi and Simone make a statement of putting their mental wellbeing first is a massive step,’ adds Lee. ‘So often, they are seen as robots, emotionless elite performers without flaws. These moments show that as a Black woman, you don’t need permission to prioritise yourself.

‘They set a precedent because so often, Black concerns are invalidated, and if attempts are made to be proactive, they are reframed as aggressive and selfish.

‘The empowerment comes from the using one of the world’s biggest platforms to make statements that we can look after ourselves, and not be forced to perform in a system that isn’t designed to look after our needs.’

The State of Racism

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