Winners and quitters at the Global Pandemic Olympics
Why celebrating mental defeat is an attack on Simone Biles herself
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Question of the Day
ANALYSIS/OPINION:
Not since the athlete formerly known as “Bruce” Jenner quit manhood has an American quitter been more celebrated than elite gymnast Simone Biles. Perhaps it is something of an indictment of this year’s Global Pandemic Olympics that the most exciting event thus far has been the women’s 800-meter dash for the quitting line.
Certainly, mental health is vitally important, and people struggling with mental issues should get help.
But it seems a little premature to declare someone a “hero” simply because she felt forced to quit something over mental problems — or any other kind of problem. It is like crowning a guy a “hero” because he had to quit work to go to the hospital to have his prostate removed.