Simone Biles breaks silence with heartbreaking mental health revelation

Simone Biles just gave us a heartbreaking peek behind her curtain of greatness.

Biles tweeted Thursday in Tokyo for the first time since her decision to withdraw from the U.S. women’s gymnastics team and individual all-around events.

“The outpouring love & support I’ve received has made me realize I’m more than my accomplishments and gymnastics which I never truly believed before,” the decorated Olympian wrote alongside her signature white heart emoji.

Biles has been active on social media re-sharing messages of support from around the world, including from fellow gymnastics teammates.

“Never been prouder to be apart of such an amazing team with an amazing group of girls. We stepped up when we needed to and did this for ourselves. We do not owe anyone a gold medal, we are WINNERS in our hearts,” Team USA gymnast Suni Lee wrote.

Former Olympian gymnast Nastia Liukin penned a heartfelt thank-you letter to Biles for showing the world who she is beyond an athlete.

“Thank you for showing the depth of who you are beyond an athlete as a leader, role model, mental health warrior and person,” Liukin wrote. “You came here as a gymnast, and you’re leaving as a hero.”

Biles’ withdrawal highlights the importance of mental health in athletes.

“We also have to focus on ourselves because at the end of the day, we’re human, too,” Biles said, according to The Associated Press. “We have to protect our mind and our body, rather than just go out there and do what the world wants us to do.”

Earlier this year, Naomi Osaka withdrew from Wimbledon to prioritize her mental health.

“Michael Phelps told me that by speaking up I may have saved a life,” Osaka wrote in a TIME essay earlier this month. “If that’s true, then it was all worth it.”

Related:

Michael Phelps speaks on importance of mental health

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  Former Team USA gymnast talks about Suni Lee, Simone Biles and more
  Retired gymnast Dominique Moceanu, a member of the gold medal-winning U.S. women’s gymnastics team in 1996, joins the 3rd Hour of TODAY to talk about Suni Lee’s gold medal win in the women’s all-around event after the withdrawal of Simone Biles. “I always knew she had the potential,” Moceanu says of Suni Lee. “I’m just so excited for her.” She adds, “Right now, Simone is making a decision that could be beneficial to her future.”
  
  
  TODAY
  

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  Suni Lee’s father talks about her gold medal win in women’s gymnastics all-around
  John Lee, father of Team USA gymnast Suni Lee, speaks to the 3rd Hour of TODAY live by telephone about his daughter’s gold medal win Thursday in the women’s gymnastics all-around in Tokyo. “There’s no words to express this right now,” he say. “The whole community’s here, and they’re all holding their breath.”
  
  
  TODAY
  

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  What’s next for Simone Biles?
  NBC Olympic prime-time host Mike Tirico joins TODAY in Tokyo to run down what to watch for in the women’s individual all-around gymnastics final Thursday and to talk about what’s ahead for Simone Biles. “Suni Lee has what it takes,” he says. “She does have a legitimate chance to win gold.” He also talks about what may be ahead for Biles, calling “the door slightly open” for her to compete again in Tokyo.
  
  
  TODAY
  

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