SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Simone Biles dropping out of the U.S. Gymnastics team final at the Olympics has sparked conversations around the mental health of athletes once again.
Following tennis star Naomi Osaka who withdrew from the French Open in late May because of mental health concerns, Biles is the latest professional athlete to put her mental health before her competition. For Syracuse University Women’s Basketball player Jayla Thornton, she couldn’t be more proud of the move.
“At the end of the day I feel like the human aspect for us is important to tone in on,” said Thornton. “I feel like that’s very important to me and I respect her for doing it.”
Thornton’s teammate Shalexxus Aaron agreed, recognizing the importance of prioritizing her own health over the game she plays.
“It’s something you sometimes have to sacrifice for a certain event or certain moment you have to sacrifice just to focus on you as a human,” Aaron explained.
Through Syracuse University Athletics, Thornton and Aaron have access to two full-time therapists to help ease the pressures that accompany playing at the collegiate level. For Biles, she received support from her teammates, U.S.A. Gymnastics, and others from across the sports world. Biles made her return to the Olympics on Tuesday, capturing a bronze medal on the balance beam.
