Simone Biles isn’t playing the mental health card and critics should back off

The world’s best gymnast should not be attacked for her mental health stance by mean spirited attention seekers.

We don’t want kids opting for a mental health escape clause the minute things get tough.

We want them to be resilient and strong, and not take the easy way out.

However, there are times when intense mental stress is a valid justification for poor performance.

In the case of US gymnast Simone Biles, it’s not an excuse, it’s an explanation.

Biles’ decision to abruptly walk away from a major Olympic event after a poor first vault routine stunned her legion of US fans who expected her to win another four gold medals.

After initially citing a medical issue, Biles confirmed that she was in good physical shape but had been “fighting all those demons” mentally.

“It’s just me in my head,” she said.

Simone Biles withdrew from the Olympics all-round gymnastics. Picture: Loic Venance/AFP

She said she didn’t want to let her teammates down by performing badly so pulled out.

“I have to focus on my mental health and not jeopardise my health and wellbeing,” she said.

The shock withdrawal of the woman known as the greatest gymnast of all time has led some to question the convenience of her mental health claims.

These include UK commentator Piers Morgan, who called her reason a joke. He lambasted her and other “virtue-signallers for fuelling this culture of celebrating weakness”.

He said “mental health issues” should not be “the go-to excuse for any poor performance in elite sport”.

It’s a mean-spirited attack from a world-class attention seeker.

Biles already has four gold medals so doesn’t need to prove anything to anyone – especially professional agitator Piers Morgan.

Morgan lost his job on UK TV after he launched a similar attack on Meghan Markle, suggesting she was mentioning her mental health issues merely to get sympathy and attention.

I agreed in that case, but Biles’ situation is different.

Unlike Markle, Biles has overcome so much to be the best in the world and win more gymnastics world championship medals than anyone else.

Biles in action before her withdrawal. Picture: Lionel Bonaventure/AFP

Biles’ mother was unable to raise her and after a stint in foster care, she was raised by her grandparents. She was also a sexual assault victim of team doctor Larry Nassar and has spoken out in support of other abuse survivors. A tough competitor, she’s performed with broken toes and kidney stones and battled ADHD.

While some athletes no doubt play the mental health card when it’s been convenient, it’s pertinent that Biles has talked about the weight of the pressure on her for some time now. It’s not something she’s conjured up right now.

After many years of performing at the peak of her powers, she admitted feeling pressured to be the best at this Olympics.

These days we see athletes as people, not just as automatons or machines. We assess their achievements in light of their personal challenges – wasn’t Kaylee McKeown’s gold medal win even sweeter because she is still mourning the death of her father last year?

But the flip side is that we have to accept that there are times when external events take their toll.

There is still enormous expectation on Biles to win nine gold medals over three Olympic games – a feat not matched since the 1960s.

But it’s unclear as to whether she will compete in her individual events. The young lady who’s the only woman ever to execute a Yurchenko double pike on the vault may be human after all.

It’s sad that the woman who has given the US public so much for so long is left wondering if she’s done enough. “We hope America still loves us,” she said.

It sure should. Give me Biles over Morgan any day.