Readers respond to last week’s Feedback Friday topic, which was:
Olympics, Expectations, Pressure & Mental Health
What are your thoughts on the Simone Biles situation, the pressures that athletes face, and self-care?
What, if any, suggestions do you have for the process?
Here’s what you said:
There is an extreme amount of pressure put on elite athletes that takes on the form of a sort of hero worship that is so unhealthy for our society...role models yes...heroes? Not so much in my opinion. We all have off days and she clearly had one. Everyone needs to do what is best for themselves and others should not judge. I will say, however, that when you put a GOAT (symbolizing Greatest of All Time in today’s vernacular) on your leotard, you probably should not be totally surprised when the media latches on and cranks up the heat on you even more. Regardless, anxiety is a real thing and can be very debilitating for people who suffer from it.
Michele Deckman, Annapolis
Just think about it for a while....she trained and prepped herself for this point in time, the Olympics. She faces pressure beyond belief with no fans cheering and supporting her. The eyes of the world and watching her every move with high expectations. She knows that she is not on her game and potentially let people and the nation down. What guts it must have taken her to make the decision to do what not only was right but considered the best interest of her fellow teammates. KUDOS to you Simone, you shown through your actions what maturity looks like and you should be thanked for being a role model to today’s youth who need guidance in today’s world.
Ron Helinski, Arnold
I think Simone did the right thing. Gymnastics can be dangerous if your head is not in it. She trusted that her teammates could do just as well or better than her.
Beth Priaulx, Arlington
She did what she thought was best at the time, for herself and her team. I have great respect for her and hope she will still be completing later in the competition.
Julie Wilke, Annapolis
“It is not the critics that count. Not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man (person) who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs, who at the best knows in the end triumph of high achievement, and who at worst, if he (she) fails, at least fails while daring greatly.”—By Theodore Roosevelt.
It is not fair to have an opinion UNLESS you have walked a mile in that persons shoes. Simone Biles teammates support her and they are the ones in a position to accurately have an opinion.
Jeanne Hartmeyer, Centreville
I think she did the right thing. By acknowledging that she felt physically and mentally unsound to compete it allowed another Olympian to compete. She kept herself safe by doing so. It was a very difficult decision to make.
Leigh Couture, Gambrills
Good decision. Health should always take precedent - physical and mental. There is WAY too much pressure on athletes to perform for "the sake of the team" with little or no regard to the person. Kudos to Simone for doing the right thing for herself.
Karen Smith, Chestertown
