By Camonghne Felix — 2021
“I should have quit way before Tokyo.”
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CLEAR ALL
Osaka’s mental health challenges are nothing new in her isolating sport. What is new is the acceptance she’ll face—and the paths back—if she takes a prolonged break.
She looked for all the world like a woman who could not be cowed. And then just when her many detractors thought she was out for good, she pulled herself back in.
In the past few weeks, my journey took an unexpected path but one that has taught me so much and helped me grow. I learned a couple of key lessons.
1
By withdrawing from competition citing concerns over her mental health, Biles showed that resisting expectations can be more powerful than persisting through them.
It’s been challenging for me to witness the victim mentality that’s become popular in mainstream narratives. I’m a woman, person of color, and daughter of immigrants. I don’t perceive myself as a victim.
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