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Update On Simone Biles

By Mike Huckabee

July 28, 2021
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The Olympic gymnast who was expected to dominate the Tokyo Games pulled out of all team events and has now dropped out of individual events as well and will not defend her title.

https://fox40.com/japan-2020/simone-biles-withdraws-from-all-around-gymnastics-competition-wont-defend-title/

Without her, the US women’s gym team lost the gold for the first time in 13 years, coming in second to Russia.

https://www.westernjournal.com/us-loses-gymnastics-gold-first-time-13-years-self-proclaimed-greatest-time-simone-biles-pulls/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=huckabee

Ms Biles explained that she was not physically injured, but was feeling too emotionally shaky to go on. She said, “Once I came out here (to compete), I was like, ‘No, mental is not there so I just need to let the girls do it and focus on myself.’”

Her last-minute withdrawal drew harsh criticism from some analysts, who accused her of being self-centered and said if she couldn’t compete, she should have let someone else take her place rather than leaving her team in the lurch. Kylee Zempel at the Federalist took that view.

https://thefederalist.com/2021/07/27/theres-no-i-in-team-but-there-is-in-simone-biles/

Others took Biles’ side, noting that she had been one of former team doctor Larry Nassar’s sexual assault victims, and people shouldn’t judge her if they don’t know what she’s going through.

One of the best commentaries was from radio host Mark Davis, who didn’t rebuke Ms Biles but considered what this says about how attitudes have softened and how the value of exhibiting mental toughness when the going gets tough is slipping away.

https://townhall.com/columnists/markdavis/2021/07/28/the-simone-biles-moment-reveals-our-softened-world-n2593215

As for me, I will pray for Ms Biles to achieve her peace, and also root for the US Women’s Team to call on their mental toughness to succeed without her.

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Comments 11-20 of 42

  • Larry Fry

    08/01/2021 11:23 PM

    I agree with you. I pray for Simone Biles to find peace. As a person who suffers from clinical depression, peace is something that is often sought, but usually only temporarily found. I cannot imagine trying to do a triple flip with a double twist and my brain and body be on different pages in the book of the move. Scary. You are a winner, Simone. Thank you.

  • Frank Varner

    08/01/2021 11:13 PM

    I feel really sorry for Simone, she has been through a lot in the last few years. I don't think that anyone will ever be able to do as well as she has. She has an amazing talent that I don't think anyone will ever surpass. My the Lord send her special comfort in the days ahead. She really needs our prayers.

  • Linda Mims

    08/01/2021 10:15 PM

    I pray for Ms. Biles and those arrested from January 6. What can we do about those being falsely detained since January 6.

  • Pat Barrett

    08/01/2021 10:01 PM

    They are chosen for their toughness and their determination and their skills. So if the competition shows that Russia has the toughness and the determination and the ability, I will be cheering for the Russian to win because just being a sad person doesn't win you the gold. I'm sorry but those are traits of those who deserve a gold medal. If you go into a war and decide you don't have the determination to fight to the death, and you sit this battle out, you don't deserve to win, you don't deserve to get a medal, and you don't deserve to even go home.

  • William Gaudette

    08/01/2021 09:48 PM

    She's a quitter, plain and simple, no more excuses needed, have read them all. Another terrible example coming out of the Olympics for our children and their future. Can you imagine the feeling of the team member next in line to go to Tokyo who has devoted her life to this performance and only watched from home?

  • Bobbe Wilson

    08/01/2021 09:40 PM

    People who do not compete on the level of our Olympians do not comprehend the stress level they endure, not to mention what it must be like for Simone who has been made out to be THE Olympian of the entire games for the USA with everyone else's expectations. I applaud her for standing up and saying "I'm not fit to compete" and not dragging our team down with performances not up to her usual excellence, and possibly injuring herself. It takes guts and great character to do as she did!

  • Eileen Henry

    08/01/2021 09:32 PM

    I understand why Simone Biles pulled out of the Olympics, Gymnastics is a very dangerous sport when competing at Olympic level. If your mind is not in the game, the results could be tragic. If you are unsure when going for a vault you could seriously hurt yourself. The same applies to moves on beam, bars and floor. If your head isn't in it the danger is greatly increased. It is not like a swimmer or a runner in track that may not be able to swim or run at their full potential.

  • Thomas R Wenndt

    08/01/2021 09:25 PM

    I'm trying neither to be negative nor conspiratorial here. But, especially in these days of HIPAA, I can't help but think that there is something else here we are not being told - something that, if known, would really help cast some clarity on this.

  • Valerie Cavanaugh

    08/01/2021 09:21 PM

    Ms Biles did not leave the team in the lurch as is tried to be portrayed in ypthis article. She declined because she had a case of what is known to gymnasts as the “twisters”. This is when you lose all control of where you are when in the air. You do not know where you are in relation to the ceiling or the floor. This could very easily turn into a very serious and even life threatening event, paralysis for life. I do not blame Ms Biles for withdrawing. No medal or the pleasing of armchair critics is worth putting your whole life in jeopardy. As a superb athlete, Ms Biles knows her body and her mind. I thank God she used her common sense to keep safe. I don’t give two hoots if we don’t beat the Russians in medals. I do care about the health and safety of all athletes from all nations. Let coaches take note: these people are athletes, the best in the world. They do their sports because they love what they do and have the talent to be good at it. They are not there to satisfy anyone else’s longings for glory.

  • Rich Frey

    08/01/2021 09:12 PM

    When I played baseball in College (1960-64) no one with whom I played would ever have considered quitting on the team. Simply put, Ms. Biles choked! She should have left the team and went home. She seems to have a very serious case of “ yea me; screw you”!

Mike Huckabee

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