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@DBPardes
Deborah Pardes
@DBPardes · 1:41

FEATURE: Athletes are leading the way : PRIORITIZING OUR MENTAL HEALTH

article image placeholderBiles withdraws from gymnastics final to protect team, self
And news like this as heartbreaking as it is for her and her whole professional trajectory. What's beautiful is the long term implications of this, that people like Naomi and Simone are paving the way for vulnerability, for transparency, for being human, no matter what location, no matter what occupation you're in, whether or not you're in occupation at all, just being human with each other, to be able to say I'm not okay, I need to take a breath. Be with me here

https://s.swell.life/SSeOYcYtS5exOI0 Simone Biles in the Spotlight

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@FryedOreo
Dewuan .
@FryedOreo · 3:16

I wish her the best.

I can't remember basketball player Kyrie Irving had a similar, not similar situation. He's a different person, different circumstances. But he stepped away from an active ongoing basketball season because he was facing some mental problems. And it seems as now the media is a bit more receptive and accepting to those who are going through bouts of mental health. And that's great. But I wonder with the everyday person, do we still struggle with this?
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@PKBriggs
Sontaia Briggs
@PKBriggs · 1:43
But really, I try not to get myself all worked up over things I read in the comments, but it just really annoyed me like, she's an Olympian, and most of us will never be an Olympian. And whatever that takes and what that involves and the dedication and the grit, the hard work, the pain and the suffering and to demonize her, disrespect her because she put herself first because can no longer be entertained
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@Phil
phil spade
@Phil · 2:57
For her to say I can't go on is really alarming to me, and it makes me think of, well, what is it that is stopping you? And I think we really need to understand that and really start recognizing that the mental aspect is just as critical as a physical ailment. And I have to add that she's already been through a lot
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@HeyCoachWalker
I am so proud of her for stepping out and not allowing the world to dictate her next steps because this is what she needs and what we're seeing, particularly after this pandemic. What we're seeing is that folks are caring so much, so good for her. This was not an easy decision for her at all. You can already imagine. But I say kudos kudos, kudos kudos. And I am holding her in the best and in the worst of times, she is strength
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@Phil
phil spade
@Phil · 3:37

https://s.swell.life/SSeUuQCGzjC2LTS The yips

And I started playing tennis and got very good because my backhand was actually my natural baseball swing. So I got really good. I played about four years traveling all over New England, playing year round, playing indoors and outdoors. And one day and I attribute this that I just wasn't mature enough to handle the mental aspect of tennis at the time. And all of a sudden, one day I could not hit my back end with any confidence whatsoever
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@DBPardes
Deborah Pardes
@DBPardes · 1:18

@Phil @HeyCoachWalker

Wow. First of all, Phil, thank you for making this about an experience you had to really personalize this. It's valuable. And I really was with you in this story, and it's scary. And it is kind, kind of blows my mind. Our minds are amazing when it comes to our bodies following them. And are we the Saboteur, or are we the excellent, pristine athlete?
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@Phil
phil spade
@Phil · 1:30

@DBPardes We need to change our approach to youth sports

It's not fun anymore. Those are the things that I hear. And I just think we're doing a lot of harm in our approach to youth sports now. And that's why I think it's just the beginning
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@Phil
phil spade
@Phil · 1:57

@kate we can help without understanding

It's very difficult for somebody to explain, and it's very difficult for somebody not in that space to understand exactly what's going on. I've tried and I've done that with trying to help loved ones cope with these paralyzing panic attacks. And when I ask, what can I do? The answer is really oftentimes nothing. There's nothing you can do. You can try to help. And sometimes you're making that worse
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@AverageJoe
Average Joe
@AverageJoe · 3:28
And I learned a little bit about what everybody was all in a Huff about. And I also learned the history of this young woman's life and the things that she endured. And I said to myself, Well, if she doesn't feel good about this and she doesn't feel mental wellness enough to continue on, and she wants to just call it a day. None of my business. I don't care. I still got to go to work tomorrow, right?
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@DBPardes
Deborah Pardes
@DBPardes · 2:02

@AverageJoe dug some digging

I'm always in awe of a person who has to stand up and do something uncomfortable. And what she did was uncomfortable. And anybody who comes out against her in some kind of athletic way. Excuse the pun, where it's kind of a sport to poke. They don't even blip on my radar. At this point. I am just so pleased to see how loud this conversation has gotten and how many people are talking and how many people are feeling. And that's exciting to me
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@Phil
phil spade
@Phil · 2:13

@AverageJoe

They also had a team physician who is now serving multiple prison terms for sexually assaulting these same gymnastes. And when people compare that struggle to Simone Biles, to me, you're promoting this culture of fear of awfulness, just complete awfulness. And I'm not sure whether that's doing so with knowledge or not. But there was a lot of ugliness that led to Carrie struggles, vault and Kerry struggle
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