Simone Biles a champion of mental health awareness for Long Island gymnasts

Simone Biles cemented her legacy as the greatest gymnast in history by winning four medals in the Paris Olympics after an early withdrawal from the Tokyo Games three years ago.

For some fans, though, it was Biles’ vulnerability about her struggles with mental health that may have left the strongest impression.

Biles withdrew from the Tokyo Olympics and spoke openly about her need to prioritize her mental health. In gymnastics, it's known as the "twisties." In other sports, such as golf, it's called the "yips." The terms refer to the struggles an athlete endures when the mind and body become out of sync and it becomes difficult to perform, especially under pressure.

Long Island high school gymnasts, coaches and mental performance coaches praise Biles for her advocacy, and agree: athletes must take care of their mental health.

“I applaud her for being open about her struggles, because I think she’s trying to change the stigma and show it's OK to struggle,” said Leah Jantzen, a mental health and performance coach for student athletes at Ward Melville High School. “Exceptional athletes recognize the fact that they have to put time into their mental game.”

Mark Armiento, a sports psychology and counseling consultant for St. John’s University, commended Biles for turning a challenging moment into an inspiring feat at the sport’s grandest stage and becoming a “tremendous, vulnerable role model.”

“Watching her transcend that moment and show she could make it through an Olympic performance again was phenomenal,” Armiento said. 

Gymnasts for the Middle Country team, which is comprised of Centereach and Newfield High Schools, said they find validation and inspiration in Biles’ journey.

Gymnastics, they said, requires a strong mind-body connection. If a gymnast’s mind does not believe in what their body is attempting, it is practically impossible for them to execute their routine.

Hannah Hughes, a senior at Newfield and a three-time Newsday Gymnast of the Year, said mental blocks can sometimes feel like a solitary struggle, but advocacy from athletes such as Biles helps her realize such struggles are not unique to her.

“It makes me feel good, because it's not just me,” Hughes said. “Even Olympians have the same problem. It makes me feel better because it makes me think I can get through these mental blocks, too, just like them.”

“When I was younger, I felt like I was the only person who ever dealt with [mental blocks],” Madisyn Rodriguez, another senior gymnast at Middle Country, said. “Now I realize it’s a normal thing.”

Melissa Valentino, Middle Country’s coach and Newsday’s 2024 Coach of the Year, said she strives to make sure her gymnasts know they are supported and have the power to speak up.

Lily Sharrock, another senior on the team, said her high school coaches make her feel like she’s “in a very safe environment” and are understanding when she is not comfortable with an event or routine.

“I think it’s like the most perfect feeling,” Valentino said of when her player empowerment efforts succeed. “I think that’s worth more than a win.”

Middle Country’s three senior gymnasts said they have developed strategies to work through their mental blocks.

Some lean on their teammates and coaches for encouragement in challenging moments, while others use visualization or breath work to enter the right headspace. Hughes said sometimes she yells “let go,” to free herself from hesitation while mid-routine.

Valentino, who has been coaching for 20 years, said her athletes now have a greater appreciation for the benefits of meditation, a practice she has long been a proponent of.

And of course, all three gymnasts said stepping away and trying again another day works just as well, too, a strategy Biles has used with great effectiveness.

As many fans speculated about the reason for her exit three years ago, Biles posted a video on Instagram of her falling on her back after coming up one-and-a-half twists short while attempting a dismount from the uneven bars during a practice in Tokyo. Later, she posted another failed attempt, this time coming up half a twist short. 

“For anyone saying I quit, I didn’t quit,” Biles wrote in the initial Instagram story. “My mind and body are simply not in sync. I don’t think you realize how dangerous this is on hard competition surface.”

“Nor do I have to explain why I put health first,” Biles continued. “Physical health is mental health.”

Hours after winning her second gold medal of the 2024 Olympics, Biles took to Instagram and posted a picture of her seated in a chair with her legs crossed, eyes closed, and posture upright.

“Mental health matters,” was the caption — the message in victory from Biles the same as it was in defeat.