In the grand scheme of things, Biles stepping down is inconsequential, and it is definitely not a reason for an asterisk in the history books, no matter what this week's news cycle try to make you believe.

One year delay, and basically no live audience due to the still ongoing lockdowns and pandemic would be a reason for the asterisk.

I think it was irresponsible to hold them, but I can't see any particular reason why they might not be considered valid.

And I certainly I don't think Biles's decision is meaningful. Why would it be? It seems entirely inconsequential to me.

Simon Biles will go down as a hero.

Admitting you don't feel well is huge.

Her honesty will save countless people.

She is my new hero. I probally shouldn't have said "hero".

We all don't like word, or label.

I just admire her on a lot of levels.

Crippling anxiety pretty much ruined me life.

Is it? Plenty of athletes say they don't feel well. The specificity about Biles is that she was the great favorite and abandoned at the last minute in the Olympics without much prior signals that it could happen. Tennis players for instance have talked about pressure, depression, the importance of mental preparation for decades now. Recently Them for instance admitted he had a terrible breakdown after so many efforts to finally win the US open and since then hasn't been able to do much. In cycling Dumoulin also recently had a break from his career because he felt too much pressure and too little joy, them dis a great come back at the Olympics. Ian Thorpe in his time spoke a lot about mental health amongst athletes, difficulties and depression.

For the competition that Biles competes in (all kinds of gymnastics) it is downright dangerous physically to compete without confidence because every small misstep can result in devastating injuries. That's not the case in many other sports.

We shouldn't have sports where you can increase your chances of winning by increasing your chances of becoming a quadriplegic or getting killed. Whether or not Biles should have pulled out of competition is moot, because her event(s) shouldn't exist in the first place.

Most (all?) sports increase the risk of injury when increasing the chance of winning. Running faster, jumping higher, etc... all increase the chance and severity of injury.

You can't increase your odds of winning an Olympic gold medal in running by increasing your chances of becoming a quadriplegic or suffering a traumatic brain injury. However you can for sports like gymnastics, snowboarding, and cycling.

This was significant because it was so last minute. It shows "no matter how far you went, you can always put your mental health first".

I think it's also significant because she's womam gymnast. Generally, they have been pushed really hard mentally. With a lot coming out in my country at least about bullying and other (non-sexual) abuse. Mostly this was focused on pushing them to train harder, ignore pain, ignore feelings, and lose more weight.

In that context, having a female gymnast stand up and say "no I am not pushing past my limits" is a big deal. It looks like a break with the past of mental abuse. Hopefully putting gymnastics in a much healthier place.

Really? I view her as a coward. A hero doesn't run away from the battle because they feel bad. These athletes are meant to be the best of us, representing our countries to the world. Do you want your country to be associated with quitting, mental illness, etc?

I'm sure she made the best decision for herself, but that's quite the opposite of heroic. She let down a lot of people. Heroic is fighting through the problems and doing what you need to do despite that adversity, not giving into it and going home.

And I admire Kerri Strug. The whole point of the Olympics is to transcend the limitations of your mind and body and not to succumb to them.

If you can't do that, is the olympic spirit to push anyway and damage yourself? Or is the olympic spirit to be honest with yourself and the rest of the world.

I also think that this decision took a lot of bravery for Biles. And I admire her for that.

>If you can't do that, is the olympic spirit to push anyway and damage yourself?

Traditionally, yes. The Olympic spirit is to be willing to push yourself as hard as necessary, through anything, even to the point of death, to win the gold. Quitting only brings shame and disgrace to you and your country.

I agree with what Simone Biles did, and I don't think anyone can judge her - only she knows what her headspace and capabilities were - but it was absolutely against what the Olympic spirit is supposed to be. Olympic competition often serves as a form of neo-eugenic nationalist propaganda (that our nation and its values creates genetically superior people and potential combatants to yours.) Imagine the furor if this were the 1980s and Simone Biles had quit and a Soviet gymnast had won the gold medal. Everyone in the US would be calling her a traitor and a coward.

One can admire both. They aren’t in competition with one another.

>That probably has something to do with Biles stepping down

People failing to medal due to mental issues is likely rampant in the games. Nothing is unique about her situation, except she stepped down first.

It might be more because these Olympics have been held during a pandemic. With all kinds of consequences.

Who?

World Heath Organization

Assuming this isn't a rhetorical question, Google is your friend here. OP wasn't making an obscure reference, her name is headline news around much of the world at the moment.

An in context explanation here would be much more valuable than sending all the readers on a google quest to figure it out.

To me (european, doesn't follow sports at all), the name is an obscure reference.