Simone Biles' doting boyfriend Jonathan Owens is standing by his Gold medalist girlfriend's decision to bow out of the Tokyo Olympics in a bid 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On Tuesday, July 27, it was announced that the 24-year-old gold medalist had withdrawn from the women's team all-around gymnastics final, and the following day, she pulled out of the individual all-around final.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.
Since then, her NFL star boyfriend, who plays for Houston Texans, took to Instagram on Thursday, July 29, to share a heartfelt post of support for Simone.
"Imma ride with you through whatever baby," he wrote, alongside a string of heart emojis.
"Your strength and courage is unmatched and you inspire me more and more everyday SB," he went on.
"You always gone be my champ baby and don’t you ever forget that, i love you so much and i can’t wait till you come home and i get to see that beautiful smile again. You know I’m always here for you baby. [sic]"
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unspecified medical issue was cited, with the official Twitter account for Gymnastics USA explaining: "Simone Biles has withdrawn from the team final competition due to a medical issue.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"After further medical evaluation, Simone Biles has withdrawn from the final individual all-around competition at the Tokyo Olympic Games, in order to focus on her mental health.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."
