Simone Biles has proven yet again that she is an incredible role model for the Black community, especially young Black women. This time, it had nothing to do with her triple twisting double somersaults or her Yurchenko double pike, but had everything to do with her ability to pause and make decisions that were best for her, both mentally and physically. On Tuesday, Biles competed in Team USA's first rotation on vault in the women's Olympic team final, bailing out of her Amanar routine and scoring a 13.766 for a 1.5 twist. Shortly after, she withdrew from the team contest, citing concerns about her mental health when speaking to reporters following the competition. She withdrew from Thursday’s individual all-around competition (which was won by her teammate, Sunisa Lee), saying that she needed to focus on her mental well-being. Through it all, Biles never left her teammates, choosing to cheer for them on the sideline. Unfortunately, many people were not happy with her decision to withdraw, expressing a lot of vitriol and hatred on social media. However, Biles did not allow others’ disappointment, opinions and foul words to deter her from making what she believed was the right choice. Her act of bravery serves as a reminder that choosing to tend to oneself does not subtract from our value, a lesson that is relevant to Black women around the world. Despite her detractors, Biles received an immense amount of support from fans and fellow athletes who were committed to validating her experience and protecting her from naysayers. On Wednesday, she tweeted, “the outpouring love & support I’ve received has made me realize I’m more than my accomplishments and gymnastics which I never truly believed before.” Biles’ choice to put herself first is essential because the Black community often forgets that mental health is just as important as physical health. Because withdrawing from events within the Olympic Games due to mental health issues is not commonly seen, her decision could now be the starting point of conversations about mental health being normalized in the Olympics. Biles still has the option to participate in the uneven bars and vault events on Sunday, and floor exercise, the event in which she reigns as Olympic and world champion. She is being evaluated daily by her team to decide whether she will participate in these events. Every day we are getting closer and closer to the Black community turning their backs on the idea that one’s worth comes strictly from accomplishments, and it is pretty refreshing.  – Sarah Jones-Smith