Dear Miss Simone,
I haven’t really watched the Olympics much, but I’ve kept up with the major stories. Our family’s biggest interest is the swimming events since my older grandchild has been on swim team practically since she could write her name. She had hopes of going to the 2020 Olympics, but when push comes to shove in any sport, you athletes know early on what level you are likely to perform at. My granddaughter knew she was a healthy competitor, but she also knew she was a college level swimmer…not an Olympian. So, when it came time to choose…competitive or athletic, she chose athletic. Her reasoning was…she wanted to have a life and enjoy growing up. I think she made a wise choice. She is mentally and physically healthy, she excels at academics, swimming is still fun and great exercise, and…colleges are contacting her to apply. There’s nothing wrong with that.
As I watched the drama unfold surrounding your struggles in Tokyo, my heart ached for you. You climbed the ladder the hard way. You worked hard. You were focused and determined. You were built to do what you do. And, when your mind played tricks on you and you chose to protect it, there were actually people calling you a “quitter” and “an embarrassment to our country”. I was shocked, but not surprised.
We live in a culture where the word “woke” has been given an ugly connotation. Maya Angelou said, “I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better.” That, my friend, is all “woke” really is. It’s being twisted to represent this or that…but the bottom line is, it is awareness. In the past, there are myriad examples of Olympians pushed beyond their limits, receiving life altering and career ending injuries. I mean, look at how few Olympians there are compared to the number of people who try to get there. The pressure put on these mostly young people is abysmal. The pressure you put on yourselves is tragic.
Yes, I know…some will blame it on “every participant gets a trophy”. Or “kids these days are too soft”. I’d dare anyone to say you, or the hundreds of premier athletes like you, are soft. The skills you perform are seriously life threatening. You had a case of the “twisties”…something gymnasts know all about. It comes when, for whatever reason, your mind and body disconnect and you lose your spatial awareness. You don’t know where you are in your spins and rolls and flips. When that happens, a gymnast is in terrible danger. The accident that could have occurred had you continued could not only have ended your career…it could have ended your life.
How fair is it of us “armchair athletes” to say what’s going on in another person’s mind? If you, or any other gymnast, would have landed wrong and broke your ankle, for instance, and had to pull out of events…are you “soft”? No! The only difference between a mental injury and a physical injury is…NO ONE CAN SEE IT. I understand the struggle between trying to do something I’m not capable of in the moment and the expectations of others that I SHOULD be able to. I don’t feel “seen” or “understood” or “validated”. I feel “judged” and “weak” and “inferior”. And I’m not on a world stage…not in any way near what a world class athlete is.
As a fellow human being with struggles of my own, and as a mom of a wonderful human being who struggles in their own way, my heart goes out to you, Simone…and the hundreds of people like you who have to make a choice…protect your mental health, or risk disappointing others. I’ll choose disappointing others any day of the week after what I’ve been through and what I’ve learned from the experience. Life is far too short, dear one. All you wonderfully talented athletes don’t “owe” me anything but honesty and good character and the wisdom to know when to say, “I can’t do this.”
It’s really ok to not be ok sometimes.
I’m proud of you, Miss Simone. As proud as I can be without actually being your mom. You are SO much more than your craft.
?
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Jeremiah 29:11 ESV