I begin this thread in response to the backlash I received from several other members of TPF when, in the Short Story Discussion thread, I criticized Simone Biles for withdrawing from the gymnastics events in which she was scheduled to compete, in the Tokyo Olympics. This backlash was swift and furious, profanity-laced, and put the highest degree of moral indignation at my remarks on display. How could I be so insensitive? How so racist in my views? etc. For I said I had perceived a pattern in the withdrawal of Biles and Naomi Osaka, women of color as I noted, from their highest competitions, both citing “mental health issues” as the reason, and I called it a “cop-out”.

After a bit of internet research, I was reminded that a movement in the media and society to bring awareness to the plight of athletes suffering from mental health issues has been taking place for a few years now, and the focus has not been confined to minority athletes (women, or ones of color): Michael Phelps and Kevin Love have been forthcoming with their struggles. But the focus tends to be on ones belonging to minorities, or oppressed groups, and the reason for this is because these ppl are perceived to be preternaturally disadvantaged: their start in the race is staggered, or they are teeing off from the back tees, or they are playing with a “handicap”, etc., and this disadvantage places greater stress on their mental health...

...that consideration is the only reason I tied women of color to this movement; for I do not, as someone accused me of, believe that black athletes are inferior to white ones.

The consensus in the media and society at large is that Simone was courageous to do what she did... and this causes one to consider what courage is. In the vulgar traditional sense, it is simply the overcoming of fear. In the Classical philosophic tradition, it is knowing what ought and ought not be feared. In Simone’s case, what did she fear?

That is a question I think we can never answer. Did she fear catastrophic injury resulting from a landing that could not be at all predicted after many convoluted twists in mid-air? Gymnasts have broken their necks and died from such accidents... but none of them was a great champion, and bull-riders and matadors, some of them great champions, have been gored and trampled in their quests for glory.

Did she fear she would fail to dominate and win many golds? Did she fear she would fail to cement her name as the greatest female gymnast of all time in the record, or as the greatest gymnast period? Or as the greatest male or female athlete in any sport? Those expectations are the heaviest an athlete could bear, yet great champions have shouldered them in the past.

We know, however, that she feared something strongly enough to forego competition that is rare and confers the greatest honors on its victors. To shun such an opportunity in the past was considered cowardice. Now however, for the athlete aspiring to honors that appear to him to be too burdensome, there is a way out: drop out and confess the unbearable stress; appeal to a popular movement that wants to equalize all human beings as vulnerable; jump on the mental health bandwagon and be assured of support from all those who most influence popular opinion.

In fine, courage used to be overcoming fear. Now it is succumbing to it.