Aimee Walker
Simone Biles has said she ‘should have quit’ before entering the Tokyo Olympics because the trauma from the sexual abuse she suffered was ‘too much’.
The 24-year-old is one of the hundreds of athletes who spoke out about disgraced team doctor Larry Nassar who was sentenced to 60 years in prison in December 2017.
She told New York Magazine: “If you looked at everything I’ve gone through for the past seven years, I should never have made another Olympic team.
Watch the moment Olympian Simone Biles shares an important message about sexual abuse in the clip below…
“I should have quit way before Tokyo when Larry Nassar was in the media for two years. It was too much.”
She added: “But I was not going to let him take something I’ve worked for since I was six years old.
“I wasn’t going to let him take that joy away from me. So, I pushed past that for as long as my mind and my body would let me.”
Piers Morgan Brands Simone Biles A ‘Joke’ After Olympics Withdrawal
Biles never clarified whether she would be retiring from gymnastics ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
During the Tokyo Games, the sports legend found herself in a difficult situation. Along with the pressure of competing, she also lacked a crowd for support or any loved ones to give her reassurance due to Covid restrictions.
When it came to the qualification round, Biles ended up making some errors that were unlike her usual self. She claimed that, for the first time, her body wouldn’t allow her to push forward.
At the time, the Olympian claimed she’d experienced ‘twisties,’ which is a term that gymnasts use to describe a mental block, resulting in muscle memory loss.
Watch our Video of the Day below…
Do you have a story for us? If so, email us at [email protected]. All contact will be treated in confidence.
