While we advocate for watching this series with kids of all ages, please note that there is some language in the two episodes (I.e. curse words), and of course there are references to the sexual abuse that occurred on USAG’s watch. Lastly, for fearful gymnasts, be aware that Betty Okino references the danger of the sport (“you could die”) in episode one. These topics may be best to approach ahead of time or at least be prepared to have conversations about with young children.
Simone Biles Rising
“…You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.”
– Maya Angelou, “Still I Rise” from And Still I Rise: A Book of Poems.
With the 2024 Summer Olympics opening ceremony less than a week away, “Simone Biles Rising” (released July 17, 2024) was a timely release on the Netflix streaming platform. A powerful two-episode series opened the door for many great conversations with adults and children.
This year’s summer Olympics will be Biles’s third Olympic cycle that she has competed in (Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024), and this documentary is filled with teammates, commentators, coaches, and retired gymnasts saying that Simone Biles is not just incredible, she’s the greatest gymnast of all time. Those are just the facts. Out of the five gymnastic moves named after Biles, only one has ever been able to be performed by another gymnast. She is a once-in-a-lifetime athlete.
This series begins in 2020 with Viola Davis narrating excerpts from “Still I Rise” as footage of Simone Biles at the Tokyo Olympics plays. We see her on the screen get lost in her maneuver (getting the “twisties”) and then remove herself from the competition.
Here are some of the themes that I gleaned from this series so far ::
- Trust your gut: Early in the first episode, Simone says that she has always had excellent intuition about things – like, to a freaky level – She can feel that things will happen before they happen. And she felt that way about the Tokyo Olympics. She chose not to listen to that feeling. And we all witnessed the fallout of that on a global stage. How many times do we not listen to our intuition about things? Seeing Simone deal with self-doubt and questioning herself was a reality check for me as a human and parent. Trusting your gut keeps you safe and sane and is an essential lesson for our kids as they move out into the world. Many outside voices will tell you what they think you should be doing with your time and talent – only one voice matters- your own.
- You have to do the mental work: The coaches and retired gymnasts agreed that it is rarely about gymnastics when the twisties happen and those mental blocks go up. Simone was adopted by her grandparents very early in her life after she and her siblings were removed from her mother’s care for neglect due to her mother’s substance abuse. Simone Biles was nineteen years old and swept the Rio Olympics, reaching career highs at such a young age and thought – “now what am I supposed to do with the rest of my life?” and fell into a depression. The sexual assault charges against Larry Nassar, the serial child rapist, former family physician, and team doctor for the US Women’s national gymnastics team for over eighteen years, came out in November 2016. Throughout the documentary, it became apparent that Biles had some traumas to work through. Like many of us, she thought she was fine until she wasn’t. Simone said, “Everything that has happened in my career that we shoved in a box. Your body can only function for so long before your fuses blow out.” Simone’s husband, NFL player Jonathan Owens, appears throughout the episodes and mentions how Simone has inspired him to see a sports psychologist to work through his mental struggles so that he can enhance his athletic performance. It was refreshing to see significant athletes discuss that taking care of themselves mentally by talking to a mental health professional is a necessary part of their sport and lives. So many of us keep pushing through our traumas as if everything is fine. It leads to an inevitable breakdown. It is essential to remind our kids and ourselves that everyone struggles and that talking about those struggles is a great strength.
- When we put people on a pedestal, we take away their humanity: It was like being punched in the gut when Simone appeared on the screen and said, “People put you on these pedestals, and I’m just begging to be human.” How often do we tune in to these Olympic games and expect these athletes to be superhuman? This was a harsh reminder to manage expectations and give grace. We expect so much from athletes of all levels (let’s think about Little League parents who go a little overboard), which puts pressure on people. Humans make mistakes and have bad days – even at the Olympics. So, let them be human.
I cannot be a bigger advocate for watching this series with kids of all ages.
Simone bravely spoke up for herself and removed herself from the Tokyo 2020 games to regain her power and return to the global stage for Paris 2024. Now more than ever, as we all rebuild the sense of community lost to us during the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic, I am grateful for the beacon of hope that the 2024 Olympic Games and athletes like Simone are to all of us. As those torches blaze, I hope it also lights a fire in you to connect with those around you in meaningful ways that allow us to acknowledge the beautiful humanity in us all.