Tokyo '21, Week 1: Under Pressure

 Let's get this out of the way first:  At the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, the United States leads the medal count over China by a 59-51 margin as of August 1.  The U.S. has 20 gold, 23 silver and 16 bronze.  The Chinese have 24 gold, 14 silver and 13 bronze.  The weather is hot and stormy, more athletes have tested positive for COVID-19, and NBC is insisting they'll make a profit on these Games in spite of low ratings and so-so reviews.

All the medals and the television coverage in the world took a back seat in Week 1 to whatever was going on with American gymnast Simone Biles, who dropped out of the all-around team and individual competition because she says she wasn't mentally able to perform.  It has been reported that Biles is begging off the rest of the individual events she was supposed to be in, but we'll see what happens in Week 2.

In the years since Biles vaulted to stardom (so to speak) at the 2016 Games in Rio, she's become the "face" of this U.S. Olympic team with NBC building their Tokyo coverage around her.  She's been through a scandal that resulted in team doctor Larry Nassar being sent to prison, convicted of sexually abusing Biles and other female gymnasts. Oh yes, and she's a Black woman participating in a sport dominated by whites.  So you could hardly blame Biles if she didn't want to face another pair of uneven bars right now.

Naomi Osaka, the tennis star who recently made headlines for skipping two of the sport's major tournaments--the French Open (also known as the Roland Garros tournament) and Wimbledon--to tend to her mental health issues after being suspended for refusing to speak to reporters.  She relented long enough to light the Olympic Flame at the Opening Ceremonies, then lost her first round match, leaving her with a lot more time to figure things out.

Biles and Osaka are being applauded for their decision to step back from the spotlight.  But this might not go over well with the "Suck It Up, Buttercup" crowd, who resent pampered millionaire athletes and celebrities who every once in awhile take time off to deal with their "issues". Or normal folks who are stressed out every day of their lives, yet they can't afford to take time off or have access to mental health services.

In Biles' absence, the American women's gymnastics team has stepped up.  They placed second in the all-around team competition behind Russia (known here as the Russian Olympic Committee after the official team was barred for alleged doping), and Sunisa Lee won gold in the individual all around event.  Both of which Biles would have dominated had she competed.

Athletes like Biles and Osaka have spent days, months and years training and perfecting their craft to get to where they are today.  If they are not mentally prepared, it can all go downhill on a moment's notice.  For Simone Biles, Naomi Osaka and so many others, being mentally prepared to face their challenges is something they must deal with, and for the rest of us to understand.