Olympic Spotlight Shifts to Mental Health

For all its pageantry and competition, perhaps the most celebrated result from the 
Tokyo 2020 Olympics is that mental health is in the spotlight. Olympians making their 
mental health a priority are empowering the rest of the world to do the same.

Bold Moves for Self-Care
Both Naomi Osaka and Simone Biles, celebrated athletes in the international spotlight 
of these games, have discussed their mental health struggles, the resulting physical 
impact, and the need to prioritize their own well-being over any physical competition.

The world was shocked when Simone Biles, widely believed to be the greatest gymnast 
of all time, withdrew from the women’s gymnastics team competition. Yet her words 
afterward will live on long after Olympic fever subsides: “I have to focus on my 
mental health and not jeopardize my health and well-being.” She added, “It just 
sucks when you are fighting with your own head.”

Japanese tennis champion Naomi Osaka faced fines and disqualification threats just 
last month when she skipped a French Open press conference because she was 
“feeling vulnerable and anxious and thought it was better to exercise self-care.” 
After being chosen to light the Olympic cauldron, making her the face of the Tokyo 
Olympics, she lost her Olympic bid in the third round with the eyes of the world 
upon her. As she said, “I definitely feel like there was a lot of pressure for this.” 

Analysts and pundits will continue to debate their actions. Ultimately, what 
Biles and Osaka did was say it should be OK to put yourself first – as athletes, 
as humans. Now, it’s up to us to make sure that it is. 

Empowered People Empower People
Biles actually credits Osaka for inspiring her to focus on her own mental health. 
We thank both of them for their openness and honesty — for advocating for their 
own needs and stepping back for self-care, for choosing not to jeopardize their 
health and well-being.

The public’s reaction to their statements and actions will make or break where 
we go from here. Ultimately, prioritizing mental wellness is not just for athletes. 
We all feel the pressure to perform, to ignore our own thoughts and feelings to 
deliver on a job or do what is best for a team. We should allow each other — 
and ourselves — to acknowledge thoughts, pause for self-care, and seek help when 
we need it. This should be culturally acceptable, even praised.