Naomi Osaka dropped out of the French Open. Simone Biles has dropped out of the team competition in the Olympics. Many people are saying that they have no right to do so. That they are athletes who have trained for this so they should be able to handle it. That they should do it for their countries. That it is not okay. On the other hand, we are starting to hear more and more about the mental health of these athletes, as well as others. Michael Phelps has been the forefront of these discussions.

Now let’s stop for a minute, let’s say that you have been under a great deal of stress lately. In addition to work or school stress, your family has also been pressuring you to do something. This stress has been going on not for a day or two, but months, even years. Since you were a child, you have never been able to let anyone know that you were not okay. It is now time for you to take your biggest test/most impressive presentation and literally THE ENTIRE WORLD is watching you! Any mistake, misstep, smallest error will be commented on and analyzed over and over and over again. We are not even talking about the social media trolls and the garbage that they spew! Don’t forget, while you are in the middle of all of this stress, you are a teenager or maybe early 20’s. Could you handle this? Wouldn’t you want to retreat and hide from all of this? Wouldn’t you be incredibly anxious and perhaps not do a good job?

Again, I know many people are remarking that these are athletes who are surrounded by support and pampered and given everything that they need. Let’s go back to an earlier Olympics. Remember when Kerri Shrug was injured but did the vault any way and landed on one leg? We all were so amazed at her! But she was a teenager and was pushed by her coach. This was also the era of Larry Nasser, the team doctor whom we now know is a sexual predator. Our athletes are preyed on by many people who want to show how amazing they are, not the athlete! These athletes have to make sure that their sponsors are happy, that the event coordinators are happy, that their coaches are happy. The athlete’s needs often come dead last. Again, remember that they are children!

If your child told you that he/she/they were suicidal and cannot continue. That they were injured and cannot continue. Were being preyed on and cannot continue. Would you make them? Or would you say that enough is enough, that your child’s well-being is more important than a medal?

I love watching the Olympics. I cheer for our athletes in every race. However, who they are and how they are is more important than the medal count. Simone, Naomi, and all the others, thank you for having the courage to step back. Thank you for being such an amazing role models. I cheer even louder for you now!