Simone Bilesis living in the moment — but keeping her options open when it comes to a futureSummer Olympicsappearance.
But she said she’s in no rush to make a decision.
“I think I have to relish and take this Olympics in, and kind ofrecognize what I’ve done with my careerbecause after 2016, I didn’t get to do that.”
“Life just happens so quickly and now I have a greater appreciation for life after everything that’s happened in the last five years,” Biles said.
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Simone Biles competing in Tokyo.Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/Getty
Biles made her return to the Olympic competition on Tuesday after pulling herself out of the team competition — later explaining that she wassuffering from the twisties, a lack of air awareness and needed to focus on her mental health.
She ended upwinning bronze in the women’s beam final. Biles scored 14.000 for her routine.
At a press conference after the beam final, the gymnast touched on the importance of making mental health a priority, saying in part, “We’re not just entertainment. We’re human, and there are things going on behind the scenes that we’re also trying to juggle with, as well, on top of sports.”
Simon Biles.Alex Livesey/Getty
Biles' coach Cecile Canqueteau-Landi told reporters that it was"too early to say" whether she would return in Paris, “after the week she’s had.”
“I don’t think she’s ready to commit to anything. And I wouldn’t blame her,” Landi added. “She used to take one day at a time … we’ve been saying that every day since we’ve been here, especially the past week. ‘One day at a time, let’s see how you feel, let’s see how you do, what do you want?’ It’s been mostly a partnership with her. She’s 24. She knows herself. I know her well, and that’s all we’ve been working on.”
Biles told Kotb, 56,on theTodayshowthat she was “happy I was able to get back out there and do one more routine, especially since I had the girls there rooting me on as well as the guys.”
“It just felt really amazing,” she continued. “I’m proud of myself for the way I pushed through and even learned that dismount that I haven’t done in years, and just put up a good set — that’s all I really wanted. I wasn’texpecting to walk away with a medalor anything, I just wanted to go out there and do it for myself. And I did.”
But she also knows her worth goes beyond the mat. “One morning I woke up and I was like, ‘I’m more than my medals and gymnastics — I’m a human being,’ " Biles said. “AndI’ve done some courageous thingsoutside of this sport as well and I’m not a quitter.”
She added, “If this situation didn’t happen, I don’t think I would have ever seen it that way. I would have never been able to walk away and think I’m more than just gymnastics and medals.”
To learn more about Team USA, visitTeamUSA.org. Watch the Tokyo Olympics now on NBC.
source: people.com
