Remember when Simone Biles took a stand for her mental health at the Tokyo Olympics and got dragged for it? People called her “weird,” said it was a “shame that she quit,” and even accused her of “failing her country” and “acting selfishly.” The hate was unreal! People questioned her toughness, her dedication, basically everything except the fact that she’s the greatest gymnast of all time. But while the critics had their say, so did her supporters. And one of the loudest voices backing her up? German gymnast!
Sarah Voss, a two-time national all-around champion. She acknowledged the impact of Simone Biles’ decision, saying, “Not only standing up for herself and her mental health.” And she had a point. Most gymnasts, at some stage in their careers, go through the twisties. But the difference? Not everyone feels safe enough to talk about it, let alone step away from competition to protect themselves. Now, that same gymnast who once stood by Biles is facing her struggles.
Voss, at 25, is facing a battle that’s forcing her to step away from the sport she loves. She recently opened up about just how much she’s been struggling, both physically and mentally. “The past few years have been the most challenging both mentally and physically,” she shared. What started as exhaustion and illness turned into something far worse—chronic pain, fevers, inflammation, and sleepless nights.
“My body felt and still feels like a cage,” she admitted, describing how her immune system has been wrecked and how, by December, she hit a breaking point. “Nothing worked anymore physically and mentally, facing dark moments, self-doubts, and anxieties.” Now, she’s in uncharted territory, searching for answers about her health with no clear roadmap.
“Healing takes patience, even when the path feels endless,” she reflected, acknowledging that finding the right doctors and treatments is a long and exhausting journey. For now, gymnastics is on pause, with her focus entirely on recovery. While she’s stepping away from competition, she left her fans with a heartfelt note: “Take care… see you soon.”
It’s a tough reality, but if one thing is clear, it’s that just like Simone Biles, Voss is learning that putting health first isn’t quitting—it’s survival. But at the same time, Biles support too her in Paris olympics when she was facing exhaustion!
Simone Biles never leaves a fellow gymnast to sink or swim
Before the competition even started at the Bercy Arena for the Paris Olympics, Simone Biles was already making an impact—this time, off the mat. Picture this: a packed bus heading to the venue, non-athletes refusing to give up their seats, and the German gymnastics team stuck standing. And then Biles, who wasn’t about to let that slide. “Fighting for us to get a seat on the overly packed bus toward the arena,” Sarah Voss shared on her Instagram stories after podium practice. It was a small moment, but it spoke volumes!
For Voss, that moment meant more than just getting a seat, because the road to Paris had been brutal. She missed three and a half weeks of training, constantly exhausted, and no one could tell her why. “I would say the road here was very bumpy. I got sick and I was very frustrated. I didn’t know what’s going on with my body. And the doctors didn’t know what to do anymore,” she admitted on July 25. The truth?
She wasn’t just run down—she was fighting Lyme-Borreliose and mononucleosis at the same time. Her body had been screaming for help, and by the time doctors figured it out, she was already deep in the struggle. And yet, somehow, she still made it to Paris. And tucked among all the emotions, exhaustion, and uncertainty, she carried a heart-shaped pin signed by Biles- a reminder of the bond between gymnasts, of the support that goes beyond competition.
See the irony, more than a year back, Voss had backed Simone Biles when she took a stand for mental health. Now, as Voss faces her own battle. But with everything she’s been through, the big question remains—how much more can she take?
The post Defending Simone Biles Against Mental Hate Drama 25-Year-Old Drops Heartbreaking Update Amidst Personal Struggles appeared first on EssentiallySports.
