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Biles hugged her teammates, exited the floor with a team trainer, and later returned to cheer on her team from the sideline, wearing a white team warmup suit. In an unprecedented move at an unprecedented Olympic Games, Simone Biles made the courageous decision to remove herself from the competition–and it was one she was at peace with.
The decision, which resulted in the U.S. taking silver in the team event, has been met with widespread criticism and praise. But more importantly, it’s shining a light on the importance of prioritizing mental health from the world’s stage.
“We also have to focus on ourselves, because at the end of the day we’re human, too,” Biles said. “So, we have to protect our mind and our body, rather than just go out there and do what the world wants us to do.”