In the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, Simone Biles had a massive comeback, winning two gold medals. But she credits one thing with helping her return from a &#8220;mental injury&#8221; at the 2020 Tokyo Games: therapy.
&#8220;Three years ago, I never thought I&#8217;d step foot on the gymnastics floor again just because of everything that had happened,&#8221; she told reporters at a press conference after winning the individual all-around medal. &#8220;But with the help of [my coach] Cecile [Landi], I got back in the gym and worked really hard mentally and physically. Even this morning at 7:00 a.m., I saw my therapist. And there&#8217;s a time change, so she is so amazing for allowing me to do that these couple of days here in Paris.&#8221;
&#8220;I was just making sure I&#8217;m mentally well, and I think you see that out on the competition floor,&#8221; she added.
Simone does therapy &#8220;religiously&#8221; every Thursday, adding in sessions &#8220;whenever I need it&#8221; before big competitions.
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During her remarks, Simone reflected on the Tokyo Games, telling reporters that she was &#8220;so nervous about getting injured physically that I kind of neglected my mental health.&#8221;
Ultimately, Simone backed out of those Games with a case of the &#8220;twisties,&#8221; a gymnastics phenomenon where someone can no longer do a twisting skill they’ve done many times in the past.
&#8220;It was a mental injury,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I think that was almost harder than physical because whenever you go to the doctor and you have a physical injury, they tell you three to six weeks, three to six months, all of that stuff. And so this, [there were] no time tells.&#8221;
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Simone said she&#8217;s &#8220;proud&#8221; of the work she put in to even compete in Paris, since &#8220;I never thought I&#8217;d be on a world stage again, competing.&#8221;
The individual all-around was a nail-biter, with Brazilian silver medalist Rebeca Andrade pulling ahead of Simone at times. (2020 champion Suni Lee took home bronze.) During her third—and likely final—Olympics, Simone joked that Rebeca was &#8220;way too close.&#8221;
&#8220;I&#8217;ve never had an athlete that close, so it definitely put me on my toes and it brought out the best athlete in myself,&#8221; she shared. &#8220;I&#8217;m getting uncomfortable guys. I don&#8217;t like that feeling! I was stressing!&#8221;
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This isn&#8217;t the first time that Simone has opened up about her mental health. In January, Simone shared that she&#8217;d been prescribed Lexapro for anxiety. She has previously discussed using a worry journal to cope with symptoms.
Simone even introduced therapy to her husband, football player Jonathan Owens.
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&#8220;She said, &#8216;I think you need to see someone,&#8217; and I&#8217;m like, &#8216;See who?'&#8221; Jonathan told Netflix cameras during her docuseries Simone Biles Rising. &#8220;It&#8217;s a humbling thing because you have to go back and look at yourself in the mirror.&#8221;
Simone is set to compete in the individual vault, floor, and beam events.
Go, Simone, go!

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Simone Biles Just Credited Therapy With Helping Her Win Olympic Gold In Paris