Simone Biles: The Strength of Vulnerability – A Psychological Insight

By Gildas Garrec, CBT psychotherapist in Nantes

In the pantheon of global sport, few names resonate with as much power, grace, and singular audacity as that of Simone Biles. The most decorated gymnast in US history, she has redefined the limits of her sport, performing moves that others deem impossible. Beyond her gold medals and world titles, Simone Biles has become an emblematic figure of another form of strength: that of vulnerability, the courage to say "stop" and to place her mental health above the world's expectations. Her journey, marked by dazzling triumphs and heartbreaking ordeals, offers valuable material for psychological exploration.

As a psychotherapist specialising in Cognitive-Behavioural Therapies (CBT), I propose to explore the psychological mechanisms that might underpin the personality and choices of this extraordinary athlete, drawing upon recognised theoretical frameworks such as Young's schemas, attachment styles, the Big Five model, and cognitive distortions, without ever making a clinical diagnosis, but by offering hypotheses informed by public facts.

1. Biographical Context: The Star and Her Cracks

Born in 1997 in Columbus, Ohio, Simone Biles' life began with significant challenges. Placed in foster care due to her biological mother's addiction issues, she was adopted at the age of six by her maternal grandparents, Ron and Nellie Biles, whom she considers her true parents. This adoption marked a turning point, offering her a stable and loving home.

Her talent for gymnastics was discovered at a very young age, and she quickly climbed the ranks, accumulating titles and medals. Her career is a catalogue of records: seven Olympic medals (including four golds at Rio 2016), twenty-five World Championship medals (including nineteen golds). She has performed moves so complex that they now bear her name.

But behind this façade of invincibility, a darker reality was hidden. In 2018, Simone Biles revealed she had been a victim of sexual abuse by Larry Nassar, the former doctor for the US national gymnastics team. She became a powerful voice among the hundreds of survivors, testifying with overwhelming dignity and strength.

The culmination of this exploration of vulnerability occurred at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Although she was the undisputed favourite, she chose to withdraw from several events due to the "twisties," a phenomenon where gymnasts lose their spatial awareness in the air. This decision, made at the peak of her career and under the eyes of the whole world, was an immense act of courage, opening a global conversation about athletes' mental health and, more broadly, on the importance of prioritising one's well-being.

2. Plausible Early Maladaptive Schemas (Jeffrey Young)

Early maladaptive schemas, developed by Jeffrey Young, are deep and persistent themes that form in childhood and adolescence and recur throughout life, affecting our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and relationships. When examining Simone Biles' trajectory, several schemas could be plausible:

A. Abandonment/Instability Schema

Given her placement in foster care and her adoption, it is plausible that Simone developed an Abandonment/Instability schema. This schema is characterised by the conviction that significant others will not be able to provide consistent emotional support or protection, and that they will eventually leave or be unstable. Even though adoption by her grandparents offered valuable stability, early experiences can leave an imprint. This schema might manifest as an underlying fear of loss, heightened vigilance regarding the reliability of others, or a tendency to overcompensate by becoming extremely autonomous and high-achieving so as not to depend on anyone. The pressure to "carry" the team or external expectations could also reactivate this need to prove her worth so as not to be "left behind."

B. Mistrust/Abuse Schema

The Mistrust/Abuse schema is almost inevitably present in survivors of abuse, as Simone Biles was in the Nassar case. This schema involves the expectation that others will intentionally hurt, abuse, humiliate, cheat, lie, manipulate, or take advantage of oneself. For an elite athlete, this mistrust can extend to institutions, to authority figures (coaches, federation) who failed to protect. The revelation of her story and her commitment to justice are attempts to repair this schema, regain control, and prevent further abuse. It is a monumental act of resilience, but the underlying schema can persist and influence her perception of relationships and systems.

C. Self-Sacrifice Schema

The Self-Sacrifice schema is very common in individuals who excel in demanding fields like elite sport. It manifests as an excessive tendency to voluntarily satisfy the needs of others at the expense of one's own needs, often to avoid guilt or to maintain emotional bonds. Simone Biles was long perceived as the "saviour" of American gymnastics, the person who always had to win, always had to shine. This pressure, self-imposed or external, may have reinforced this schema, pushing her to ignore her own distress signals to meet the expectations of her team, her country, her fans. Her decision in Tokyo to withdraw is a spectacular break with this schema, a radical act of self-assertion.

D. Unrelenting Standards/Hypercriticalness Schema

The Unrelenting Standards/Hypercriticalness schema is almost an inherent characteristic of champions. It is the belief that one must strive to meet very high standards of behaviour and performance, generally to avoid criticism or shame. For Simone, perfection was not only a goal, but a constant expectation. This schema can fuel discipline and perseverance, but it can also lead to exhaustion, performance anxiety, and a feeling of failure even in the face of success, if internal criteria are not perfectly met. The "twisties" can be interpreted as an extreme manifestation of the pressure exerted by this schema, where the body and mind refuse to cooperate under the weight of intolerable demands.

3. Defence Mechanisms

Faced with the extreme pressures of her career and the traumas experienced, Simone Biles likely mobilised various defence mechanisms, defined by psychology to protect the ego against anxiety and stress.

A. Sublimation

Sublimation is a mature defence mechanism where unacceptable impulses or emotions are transformed into socially acceptable and productive behaviours. For Simone, her determination to excel in gymnastics, to push the limits of her sport, could be seen as a sublimation of aggression, frustration, or pain related to her early experiences or abuse. Intensive training, the pursuit of perfection, the desire to leave an indelible mark are powerful expressions of this transformed energy.

B. Denial and Repression

Initially, when faced with the abuse, many survivors may resort to denial (refusing to acknowledge a painful reality) or repression (unconsciously pushing disturbing thoughts or memories out of awareness). The fact that she took time to reveal her story, like many other victims, suggests that these mechanisms may have been at play to allow her to continue functioning and performing. The recognition and public expression of her trauma marked a break with these defences.

C. Reaction Formation

Reaction formation involves adopting attitudes or behaviours opposite to unconscious desires or feelings. Simone long projected an image of invincibility, constant joy, and flawless performance. This public image, though partially authentic, may also have served to mask anxieties, doubts, or deep inner suffering. The decision to withdraw in Tokyo broke this reaction formation, revealing the vulnerability behind the façade.

D. Self-Assertion and Altruism

Later in her trajectory, Simone demonstrated more mature defence mechanisms. Her public testimony against Larry Nassar and her role as an advocate for survivors fall under altruism, where one finds gratification in helping others. Her decision in Tokyo falls under self-assertion, the act of defending one's own rights and needs in an appropriate and respectful manner. These mechanisms attest to considerable psychic strength and an ability to transform suffering into constructive action.

4. Hypothetical Attachment Style (John Bowlby, Mary Ainsworth)

Attachment style, as conceptualised by Bowlby and Ainsworth, forms in early childhood through interactions with attachment figures and influences how we form and maintain relationships throughout our lives.

Despite an early life marked by instability, adoption by her grandparents was a major protective factor. Ron and Nellie Biles offered her a loving, secure, and stable environment. This strongly suggests the development of a secure attachment style.

Individuals with a secure attach

Gildas Garrec, CBT psychotherapist in Nantes — This article offers psychological hypotheses based on public sources, not a clinical diagnosis.