For nearly a decade Simone Biles seemed not only unbeatable but unshakeable.

She would reel off the most difficult gymnastics maneuvers with a daredevil91裸聊视频檚 spirit and an artist91裸聊视频檚 passion, her smile brighter than the 25 medals she won at the world championships and the five she won while dominating the 2016 Rio Olympics. She was declared the GOAT 91裸聊视频� greatest of all time 91裸聊视频� and she embraced the role with good humor by wearing leotards cheekily adorned with a glittery goat.

Few people realized that behind the perky hair ribbons and spangles is a young woman who has been bruised by life, first in the foster care system when her addict biological mother couldn91裸聊视频檛 care for her, and later when she was among hundreds of girls and women who were sexually abused by former national team doctor Lawrence Nassar. She thought of committing suicide in the aftermath of the abuse, she recently acknowledged in a Facebook Watch docuseries.

The past recedes but its traumas can hauntingly return in times of stress. Add an extra year91裸聊视频檚 wait for the Tokyo Olympics because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the expectations Biles faced as a potential six-time gold medalist here, and a toxic brew began to percolate.

Biles, 24, long ago took the vital step of seeking help for the anxiety and doubts that recently eroded her confidence on the gym floor. Even so, her nerves resurfaced publicly in Tokyo. During the team competition she didn91裸聊视频檛 know where she was in the air on a vault, a terrifying and potentially debilitating state of disorientation that gymnasts call 91裸聊视频渢he twisties.91裸聊视频� Wisely, she withdrew. She got off the merry-go-round before she fell off and became too broken to repair.

With that in mind, it came as no surprise on Wednesday that she opted out of the all-around final, one of the four events in which she won gold in 2016.

91裸聊视频淎fter further medical evaluation, Simone Biles has withdrawn from the final individual all-around competition at the Tokyo Olympic Games, in order to focus on her mental health,91裸聊视频� USA Gymnastics said in a statement. 91裸聊视频淪imone will continue to be evaluated daily to determine whether or not to participate in next week91裸聊视频檚 individual event finals. Jade Carey, who had the ninth-highest score in qualifications, will participate in her place in the all-around.

91裸聊视频淲e wholeheartedly support Simone91裸聊视频檚 decision and applaud her bravery in prioritizing her well-being. Her courage shows, yet again, why she is a role model for so many.91裸聊视频�

While some self-important talk show hosts derided her as cowardly, while critics accused her of abandoning her team 91裸聊视频� when in truth she showed trust in her teammates to perform under unimaginably tough circumstances 91裸聊视频� other athletes quickly came to her support. It91裸聊视频檚 worth paying attention to the people who best understand what she91裸聊视频檚 confronting. Many have been there.

91裸聊视频淪he seems like she91裸聊视频檚 doing what91裸聊视频檚 best for her and it91裸聊视频檚 been awesome to see that she91裸聊视频檚 been able to go against the pressures of society and do what91裸聊视频檚 best for herself,91裸聊视频� said Sam Mikulak of Newport Coast, Calif., who finished 12th in the men91裸聊视频檚 all-around on Wednesday.

Mikulak said Biles was in good spirits when they talked after Tuesday91裸聊视频檚 competition. 91裸聊视频淩eally proud for her for prioritizing mental health and making sure that everyone knows and understands we91裸聊视频檙e not just athletes. We91裸聊视频檙e human beings, and sometimes it91裸聊视频檚 too much, and when that91裸聊视频檚 the case, you91裸聊视频檝e got to do what91裸聊视频檚 best for you,91裸聊视频� he said.

Mikulak, who has been open about his own mental health struggles, said social media can trigger anxiety and expose athletes to outsiders91裸聊视频� demands.

91裸聊视频淥n Twitter [the tone is] 91裸聊视频業91裸聊视频檓 really expecting this, I want this from this person. Oh, Simone is going to be the medal factory of the world,91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淲hen you get these conversations, all this hype and everyone starts talking about it, it gets in your head a lot and it starts changing you to what other people want you to be rather than you being able to stand up for yourself and be who you want to be. There91裸聊视频檚 just a lot of toxicity out there and it91裸聊视频檚 better just to not have that, in general and just focus on yourself a lot more.91裸聊视频�

Like Biles, Chris Evert appeared to be so unshakeable that she was nicknamed 91裸聊视频淚ce Maiden91裸聊视频� early in her tennis career. Nothing seemed to rattle her as she became the No. 1 player in the world and won 18 Grand Slam singles tournaments. Asked her thoughts about Biles91裸聊视频� withdrawal from the team event, Evert hinted she, too, had dealt with private turmoil.

91裸聊视频淵es, there were times when I wanted to run away and hide 91裸聊视频� in the woods 91裸聊视频� anywhere,91裸聊视频� she said on Twitter. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 overwhelming, but we didn91裸聊视频檛 have communication or information in those days about mental health91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�

Evert praised Biles and tennis player Naomi Osaka, who played in the Olympics after taking a mental health break that included withdrawing from the French Open. 91裸聊视频淏ravo,91裸聊视频� Evert said. 91裸聊视频淵ou are showing such courage in speaking out for ALL young athletes who experience nerves, stress, expectations and pressure. This is a very profound moment in sports. Thank you.91裸聊视频�

Former U.S. national soccer team star Landon Donovan, who was criticized for taking a three-month mental health break in 2013, also showed support for Biles.

91裸聊视频淩eally proud of @Simone91裸聊视频擝iles for having the courage to make such a difficult decision,91裸聊视频� he wrote on Twitter. 91裸聊视频淚 encourage everyone to have compassion for her and try to understand the pressure she was dealing with. She91裸聊视频檚 a human being first and an athlete second. We can all learn from her courage.91裸聊视频�

If Biles doesn91裸聊视频檛 compete again in Tokyo, she has accomplished enough in gymnastics to keep that 91裸聊视频淕OAT91裸聊视频� nickname. She has accomplished something else important by bringing athletes91裸聊视频� mental health issues to the forefront on an international stage. 91裸聊视频淓veryone wants athletes to be indestructible and perfect all the time,91裸聊视频� Mikulak said.

They are not. We shouldn91裸聊视频檛 expect them to be, no matter how perfect they might look.

91裸聊视频擝y Helene Elliott, Los Angeles Times