ArcaMax

I always look forward to the U.S. women's gymnastics team competing during the Olympics, and I must say that the ladies representing our nation this summer did not disappoint. Of course, there were a few personal disappointments with Simone Biles and Suni Lee falling during the balance beam finals, but the overall medal count was still outstanding.

Biles, the most decorated female gymnast in history, aka the GOAT, absolutely crushed what she called her "Redemption Tour" after having to pull out of the team final competition at the 2020 Tokyo Games due to struggles with her mental health. She took a lot of abuse and criticism on social media for sharing that she was suffering from the "twisties," a dangerous condition that causes gymnasts to lose track of their position when in midair during their routines. At 27, which is considered a bit old for her sport, Biles no doubt came to conquer in Paris as she propelled her teammates to the all-around gold, while taking individual gold in the vault and women's all-around competitions. She also made it a point to discuss mental health awareness during her "TODAY" interview.

The timing for Biles to shed more light on her mental health progress could not have been better as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention just released a report that includes results from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey. The survey is administered every two years, and while it was concluded that the youth mental health crisis in the U.S. is still very serious, there were indicators of improvement for girls and Black students. The percentage of girls who said they felt sad and hopeless decreased to 53% in 2023, down four percentage points from 2021. The number of Black students attempting suicide during this two-year period declined from 14% to 10%. Biles continuing to use her enormous platform in sports to share how she is overcoming her emotional anxieties will inspire young people going through similar challenges.

The spotlight on Biles at the summer Games also brought another moving story of one of her fiercest competitors to the forefront, 25-year-old Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade. One could argue that Andrade has approached GOAT status in her country as she now has six medals, currently the most of any Brazilian Olympian. Andrade and Biles put on a duel for the ages for gymnastics fans as Andrade took the silver behind Biles in the vault and women's individual all-around. However, Andrade besting Biles to win gold in the floor exercise resulted in one of the most iconic Olympic podium photos. Biles and teammate Jordan Chiles, who won bronze, bowed to honor Andrade as she held her arms up in triumph. I believe that Biles and Chiles were thinking about how Andrade recovered from three torn ACLs to continue competing at an elite level. The genuine sportsmanship they showed was a great example of how to respect your opponent.

It is easy to see why Andrade is an Olympic fan favorite just from reading about her incredible backstory. She not only faced difficult physical setbacks but also had to persevere through economic hardship while pursuing her gymnastic dreams. She was born in a shantytown in Brazil to a mother who worked as a maid and cared for five children. Basic transportation to the gym was a huge obstacle, but Andrade's coach stepped in and invited her to train in Curitiba. She would win her first World Cup medal at the age of 13. Watching Andrade celebrate her medal performances in Paris was truly uplifting as she thanked God for everything she has been through. She sang a song of praise in one interview after the vault competition, sharing with reporters that "God was preparing me so that I could achieve my goals today ... He's doing things that I could never have imagined."

For many of us who are not athletically gifted, it is hard to imagine how Olympians often seem flawless as they showcase their God-given physical talents on a global stage. I take joy in watching female gymnasts excel because their accomplishments motivate young girls and expose them to confident, strong and graceful women who are not only winning medals but winning at life. It was great to witness this on display in Paris.

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Dr. Jessica A. Johnson is a lecturer in the English department at Ohio State University's Lima campus. Email her at smojc.jj@gmail.com. Follow her on X: @JjSmojc. To find out more about Jessica Johnson and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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