Simone Biles has been chosen Time magazine's Athlete of the Year for 2021.Biles, dubbed the GOAT (greatest of all time) in gymnastics, is a legend in the sport, with four talents named after her. After repeatedly withdrawing from several of her events due to mental health problems, the magazine decided to name the star Olympian gymnast for the title. Meanwhile, Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, was voted Time's Person of the Year.
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When she withdrew from four event finals at the Tokyo Olympics, the world's most decorated gymnast was praised for prioritising her mental health.
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Despite the setback, the 24-year-old took silver in the team all-around and bronze in the balance beam in the Tokyo Olympics.
Biles believed she was 'good to go' before the Olympics, according to Time. In retrospect, she admits that she was carrying a heavy load while training. She was the face of Team USA, and people all across the world were looking forward to seeing her defy gravity. She gradually came to suspect that the Olympics were less about her fulfilment and more about the country.
Biles made an emotional statement at a US Senate hearing investigating the sexual abuse scandal involving former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar a month after the Tokyo Olympics 2020.
Hundreds of athletes, including Biles, have accused the FBI, USA Gymnastics, and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee of failing to end the abuse.
Earlier this month, the athlete turned to social media to say that she may be dealing with mental health concerns once more.
On November 26, Biles asked her fans in a tweet why it becomes more difficult to impress one's family as they get older. "I'm just so exhausted", she said in a second tweet a few minutes later. A number of fans and peers came for ward to express their support for the athlete and to wish her well.
Simone Biles has seven Olympic medals to her credit.