Simone Biles on Showing Mental Health Journey While Filming Netflix Doc: “It Was a Point of Strength”

Simone Biles on Showing Mental Health Journey While Filming Netflix Doc: “It Was a Point of Strength”

As a gamer who has had my fair share of battles and triumphs in virtual worlds, I can relate to Simone Biles in many ways. Her journey, as portrayed in her Netflix documentary “Simone Biles Rising: Part 2,” is nothing short of inspiring. It’s not just about the physical prowess she demonstrates on the mat; it’s about her courage, resilience, and unwavering commitment to mental health.


The Netflix documentary titled “Simone Biles Rising: Part 2” chronicles Simone Biles’ road to her Paris Olympic return in 2024, as she bravely faces competition again after taking a break from the 2020 Tokyo Games to focus on her emotional well-being.

At the movie’s opening night, the Olympic athlete shared with The Hollywood Reporter that the experience of revealing her personal challenges in maintaining emotional health and gymnastic performances for the screen has been a valuable learning journey for her about self-discovery.

Biles admitted she was far more resistant than she initially believed. However, being open and exposed helped her discover bravery.

The star found courage by turning to her family when she felt anxious or uneasy during the Olympics, an experience that was missing for her at the postponed Tokyo Olympics in 2021 due to the continuous COVID-19 pandemic. (Paraphrased)

She mentioned during the Q&A session that she gazes at the audience to soothe herself, serving as a stress-reliever for her. The opportunity to engage with them in Paris, where she could communicate and see them, held immense significance for her because it created unforgettable memories that we’ll value jointly.

As a devoted fan, it’s heartwarming for me to express that seeing my partner, Jonathan Owens, present to cheer me on means the world. He understands his role as my pillar of strength. Even after a misstep during the bars routine, I found solace in his gaze, he whispered, “You’re okay, relax.

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Director Katie Walsh shared insights about observing gymnast Simone Biles’ development over a span of five years as they worked together on this documentary. She noted that Biles has significantly changed since the initial portion of the documentary, which premiered in July.

Walsh stated that she’s discovered a great deal about self-care and maintaining her mental wellbeing, always prioritizing herself. It’s an inspiring message and one worth emulating by everyone,” (paraphrased)

As a gamer speaking for myself, I can relate to Simone Biles’ experience of sharing her mental health journey publicly. It’s not easy being transparent about personal battles like depression, anxiety, “twisties,” and panic attacks, especially in Part 2 where I too felt the weight of vulnerability.

She explained that the topics discussed during therapy were deeply personal and significant to her, as it’s her unique space where she finds what works best for her. She added that she wasn’t comfortable sharing too much, as these aspects are private and confidential. This made it a bit challenging because she didn’t want others to misinterpret her situation and assume she was struggling excessively.

Biles clarified, “Going in and doing my visualizations, talking with my therapist when necessary, was more about drawing on my strength rather than showing a sign of weakness.

Nevertheless, the gold medal winner urged supporters to search for assistance when confronting personal struggles. “You truly merit this aid,” she stated. “Taking that initial step is the most difficult, but once it’s done, I’ll accompany you every step further.

Simone Biles Rising: Part 2 premieres Friday on Netflix.

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2024-10-24 20:55