5 ms·

I can't help but think this olympics will go into the history books with an asterisk. That probably has something to do with Biles stepping down. It just feels

I can't help but think this olympics will go into the history books with an asterisk. That probably has something to do with Biles stepping down. It just feels weird.

spockz 5y ago
It might be more because these Olympics have been held during a pandemic. With all kinds of consequences.
serial_dev 5y ago
In the grand scheme of things, Biles stepping down is inconsequential, and it is definitely not a reason for an asterisk in the history books, no matter what this week's news cycle try to make you believe. One year delay, and basically no live audience due to the still ongoing lockdowns and pandemic would be a reason for the asterisk.
itsoktocry 5y ago
>That probably has something to do with Biles stepping down People failing to medal due to mental issues is likely rampant in the games. Nothing is unique about her situation, except she stepped down first.
Lazare 5y ago
I think it was irresponsible to hold them, but I can't see any particular reason why they might not be considered valid. And I certainly I don't think Biles's decision is meaningful. Why would it be? It seems entirely inconsequential to me.
hellbannedguy 5y ago
Simon Biles will go down as a hero. Admitting you don't feel well is huge. Her honesty will save countless people. She is my new hero. I probally shouldn't have said "hero". We all don't like word, or label. I just admire her on a lot of levels. Crippling anxiety pretty much ruined me life.
- mijamo 5y ago
  Is it? Plenty of athletes say they don't feel well. The specificity about Biles is that she was the great favorite and abandoned at the last minute in the Olympics without much prior signals that it could happen. Tennis players for instance have talked about pressure, depression, the importance of mental preparation for decades now. Recently Them for instance admitted he had a terrible breakdown after so many efforts to finally win the US open and since then hasn't been able to do much. In cycling Dumoulin also recently had a break from his career because he felt too much pressure and too little joy, them dis a great come back at the Olympics. Ian Thorpe in his time spoke a lot about mental health amongst athletes, difficulties and depression.
  - rocqua 5y ago
    This was significant because it was so last minute. It shows "no matter how far you went, you can always put your mental health first". I think it's also significant because she's womam gymnast. Generally, they have been pushed really hard mentally. With a lot coming out in my country at least about bullying and other (non-sexual) abuse. Mostly this was focused on pushing them to train harder, ignore pain, ignore feelings, and lose more weight. In that context, having a female gymnast stand up and say "no I am not pushing past my limits" is a big deal. It looks like a break with the past of mental abuse. Hopefully putting gymnastics in a much healthier place.
  - Tarsul 5y ago
    For the competition that Biles competes in (all kinds of gymnastics) it is downright dangerous physically to compete without confidence because every small misstep can result in devastating injuries. That's not the case in many other sports.
    - Alex3917 5y ago
      We shouldn't have sports where you can increase your chances of winning by increasing your chances of becoming a quadriplegic or getting killed. Whether or not Biles should have pulled out of competition is moot, because her event(s) shouldn't exist in the first place.
inside6 5y ago
Who?
- ColonialOne 5y ago
  Assuming this isn't a rhetorical question, Google is your friend here. OP wasn't making an obscure reference, her name is headline news around much of the world at the moment.
  - shard972 5y ago
    @dang rule violation
  - yreg 5y ago
    An in context explanation here would be much more valuable than sending all the readers on a google quest to figure it out. To me (european, doesn't follow sports at all), the name is an obscure reference.
- fomine3 5y ago
  World Heath Organization

I can't help but think this olympics will go into the history books with an asterisk. That probably has something to do with Biles stepping down. It just feels weird.

spockz 5y ago

It might be more because these Olympics have been held during a pandemic. With all kinds of consequences.

serial_dev 5y ago

In the grand scheme of things, Biles stepping down is inconsequential, and it is definitely not a reason for an asterisk in the history books, no matter what this week's news cycle try to make you believe. One year delay, and basically no live audience due to the still ongoing lockdowns and pandemic would be a reason for the asterisk.

itsoktocry 5y ago

>That probably has something to do with Biles stepping down People failing to medal due to mental issues is likely rampant in the games. Nothing is unique about her situation, except she stepped down first.

Lazare 5y ago

I think it was irresponsible to hold them, but I can't see any particular reason why they might not be considered valid. And I certainly I don't think Biles's decision is meaningful. Why would it be? It seems entirely inconsequential to me.

hellbannedguy 5y ago

Simon Biles will go down as a hero. Admitting you don't feel well is huge. Her honesty will save countless people. She is my new hero. I probally shouldn't have said "hero". We all don't like word, or label. I just admire her on a lot of levels. Crippling anxiety pretty much ruined me life.

mijamo 5y ago
Is it? Plenty of athletes say they don't feel well. The specificity about Biles is that she was the great favorite and abandoned at the last minute in the Olympics without much prior signals that it could happen. Tennis players for instance have talked about pressure, depression, the importance of mental preparation for decades now. Recently Them for instance admitted he had a terrible breakdown after so many efforts to finally win the US open and since then hasn't been able to do much. In cycling Dumoulin also recently had a break from his career because he felt too much pressure and too little joy, them dis a great come back at the Olympics. Ian Thorpe in his time spoke a lot about mental health amongst athletes, difficulties and depression.
- rocqua 5y ago
  This was significant because it was so last minute. It shows "no matter how far you went, you can always put your mental health first". I think it's also significant because she's womam gymnast. Generally, they have been pushed really hard mentally. With a lot coming out in my country at least about bullying and other (non-sexual) abuse. Mostly this was focused on pushing them to train harder, ignore pain, ignore feelings, and lose more weight. In that context, having a female gymnast stand up and say "no I am not pushing past my limits" is a big deal. It looks like a break with the past of mental abuse. Hopefully putting gymnastics in a much healthier place.
- Tarsul 5y ago
  For the competition that Biles competes in (all kinds of gymnastics) it is downright dangerous physically to compete without confidence because every small misstep can result in devastating injuries. That's not the case in many other sports.
  - Alex3917 5y ago
    We shouldn't have sports where you can increase your chances of winning by increasing your chances of becoming a quadriplegic or getting killed. Whether or not Biles should have pulled out of competition is moot, because her event(s) shouldn't exist in the first place.

inside6 5y ago

Who?

ColonialOne 5y ago
Assuming this isn't a rhetorical question, Google is your friend here. OP wasn't making an obscure reference, her name is headline news around much of the world at the moment.
- shard972 5y ago
  @dang rule violation
- yreg 5y ago
  An in context explanation here would be much more valuable than sending all the readers on a google quest to figure it out. To me (european, doesn't follow sports at all), the name is an obscure reference.
fomine3 5y ago
World Heath Organization