Michelle Obama has thrown her support behind Simone Biles after the athlete pulled out of events at the Olympics in order to prioritize her mental health.
On Tuesday, July 27, it was announced that the 24-year-old gold medalist had withdrawn from the women's team all-around gymnastics final, and the following day, she pulled out of the individual all-around final.
Biles' decision to take a step back has sparked a widespread discussion online, as it was the reminder that some people needed over the importance of taking care of your mental health.
Now the former FLOTUS has taken to social media to share her message of support and solidarity for Biles, telling the gymnast that the country is "rooting" for her.
"Am I good enough? Yes, I am. The mantra I practice daily," Obama wrote on Twitter. "@Simone_Biles, we are proud of you and we are rooting for you. Congratulations on the silver medal, Team @USA!"
The athlete herself took to social media on July 29, writing: "The outpouring love & support I’ve received has made me realize I’m more than my accomplishments and gymnastics which I never truly believed before."
When the news first broke, an unspecified medical issue was cited, with the official Twitter account for Gymnastics USA explaining: "Simone Biles has withdrawn from the team final competition due to a medical issue. She will be assessed daily to determine medical clearance for future competitions."
It has since been announced that her decision to pull out of the events was prompted by mental health concerns.
Gymnastics USA later tweeted the following statement:
"After further medical evaluation, Simone Biles has withdrawn from the final individual all-around competition at the Tokyo Olympic Games, in order to focus on her mental health.
"Simone will continue to be evaluated daily to determine whether or not to participate in next week's individual event finals. Jade Carey, who had the ninth-highest score in qualifications, will participate in her place in the all-around.
"We wholeheartedly support Simone's decision and applaud her bravery in prioritizing her wellbeing. Her courage shows, yet again, why she is a role model for so many."
Per BBC News, after the opening rotation, a dejected Biles commented: "After the performance I did, I just didn't want to go on. I have to focus on my mental health. I just think mental health is more prevalent in sports right now.
"We have to protect our minds and our bodies and not just go out and do what the world wants us to do. I don't trust myself as much anymore. Maybe it's getting older. There were a couple of days when everybody tweets you and you feel the weight of the world.
"We're not just athletes. We're people at the end of the day and sometimes you just have to step back."
