Simone Biles was the world's best female gymnast and he pulled out of the Tokyo Olympics women's gymnastics team competition on Tuesday. In a forthcoming episode of Slates Parenting Podcast, Mom and Dad Are Fighting Dan Kois asks Jamilah Lemieux and Elizabeth Newcamp how parents can talk to their children about Biles' decision. This podcast stresses the importance of grit, perseverance and keeping promises even when it is hard. Below is an edited transcript from their conversation. You can listen to the entire segment on Thursday when the podcast goes live.AdvertisementDan Kois: This is a high-profile example showing someone at the top of her sport, literally, the greatest gymnast ever, bailing out in the middle the most important competition. This is something I struggle to discuss. While I appreciate Simone Biles' efforts to take care of her mental health and applaud her for being able to do so, I discovered that I still hold some old-fashioned ideas about Olympians fighting through adversity and Olympians playing through pain. I think Ive seen too many NBC puff pieces about athletes winning gold, even though they have torn their seventh ACL.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementJamilah Lemieux : Simone Biles is a great example of courage and willpower. She decided she wasn't able to compete and protected herself against injury. Her teammates stepped up to do the hard work they had trained for and she brought home a silver medal.You can see why she spoke out about Larry Nassar's influence on her. Because most of the girls competing in the competition are younger than him, the conversation about his achievements and how they were able to accomplish them keeps going. This is someone who has given a lot and she gave her best to herself today. She gave to her team, her country and I believe she did that because she is a great role model for young people.AdvertisementElizabeth Newcamp: You are absolutely right. Every commercial in America features you. Every NBC ad for Olympics has you saying that you are the best and will bring home the gold. Every announcer talks about how you will be the most decorated woman at Summer Games. All of these things. She said, "I'm not right." I don't know what it does for my future if I compete.AdvertisementThen, she returns to be a teammate. She doesn't just leave. She returns. She shares her feelings with her colleagues. Then she tells her teammates what she's going through. She's giving high-fives. This to me is a better role model for my children than someone who can do these flips like she is. She works hard at it.AdvertisementKois: Fundamentally, these Olympic athletes are people that have made the decision to compete at an elite level. Theyve made this commitment. There are two sides to this. They made the decision. Therefore, they are the ones that can make the decisions when they don't feel competitive. These ideas are still a challenge for me. I don't know if it is my children's commitment to their soccer team to play the entire season, be with them, and play to her best, or if it is an Olympians dedication to her teammates to do her best. What is the best time to recognize or acknowledge that you need to take a step back?AdvertisementAdvertisementLemieux: Listening to yourself and your body is key. This is because so many of the rules and spectacles surrounding sport are created by people who are no longer active competitors. ShaCarri Richardson is one of my favorite people. This moment is dominated by three women: Naomi Osaka (ShaCarri Richardson), and Simone Biles (Simone Biles). They all have openly admitted to having a mental health problem or challenge.These people deal with things that we don't know. These kinds of decisions will not be accepted by the public. If you realize that you cannot be your best self in this moment, and that you have the ability to step back and protect your team, then that's the lesson. Simone's actions are an example to follow, so I don't think we have much to add.AdvertisementThat's not always your story. Sometimes, it might be the right thing to push through an injury or anxiety and keep going. If it isn't, you need to listen to your inner voice and accept the fact that it doesn't.AdvertisementNewcamp: This is the conversation with your children. It is just too much when she says it. It doesn't matter if she wouldn't have said it to you; its too much for them.Kois: I think it would have been too much.Newcamp: Yes. I mean, I cant even do a cartwheel.Lemieux: Simone Biles is not a person that says, "You know, I was just sitting with my crystals last evening and I contemplated this. And I decided, but I'm not going to fuck up my team and myself." This is a difficult decision.Newcamp No.Lemieux: Simone Biles has nothing left to do. Simone Biles would still be Simone Biles if she had not participated in the Olympics.
