“I still go to therapy every week. It keeps me grounded and helps me process everything that’s happening in my life and in the world. It’s my safe haven, the place where I learn to be kind to myself.”
Simone sensationally withdrew from the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics because she needed to prioritise her mental and physical health, and the gymnast is adamant she did the right thing by walking away from the competition.
She explained: “First and foremost, the main reason I decided to stop was for my physical health. I didn’t want to go out there and get injured, but also for my mental health.
“I knew it was the right thing to do, even if the world didn’t understand. It was difficult, but necessary. Standing up for myself in that arena was the bravest leap of my life.”
She went on to explain her experience in Tokyo was a turning point for her because it opened up a wider discussion about mental health in sport.
Simone told the publication: “It completely transformed me. Before, people only talked about my medals; now they also talk about the mental aspect.
“That makes me happy; it shows that something has changed, because before, unfortunately, my career wasn’t very relatable to most people, except for other elite athletes …
“I learned that success means nothing if you can’t enjoy it peacefully.”