If I may ...
I'm totally in her court - I've heard some stories which point to Tokyo not permitting her access to her medications - which she needs. I've heard - unconfirmed - that they may help her deal with mental illness. Having several persons in my family suffering and dealing with various degrees of mental illness - one of them, congenital - I understand.
However -
She then probably should not have gone to Tokyo to begin with. I don't know why she went. Pressure? Don't know. But in all fairness to her teammates, probably should not have gone.
She is said to have ADHD and is taking Ritalin (methylphenidate).
"A special arrangement is in place
specifically for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games to allow athletes taking these medicines for therapeutic use, and with an approved Therapeutic Use Exemption, to import personal supplies for the treatment of their medical condition while they are in Japan," a document
provided via Team USA says.
"While the laws in Japan are extremely stringent when it comes to stimulants, they're slightly more lax about psychotropics, the class of drugs under which Ritalin is categorized. Athletes and nonathletes alike can apply for a
Yakkan Shoumei — an "import certificate" allowing for the import of some otherwise prohibited drugs — that permits them to
bring up to 2.16g of their methylphenidate into the country."
I would think she, or someone on her behalf, having known of the requirement and process well before leaving for Japan, filed for the exception and 'Import certificate".
It could also be argued that since methylphenidate is also a performance enhancing drug, and while elite athletes are given official permission to use them, one should also think of these drugs as giving an unfair advantage over other non-using competitors. Though this, a different subject of minutiae altogether. Unless of course she relies on the drug to unfairly maintain her performance levels?
I've got to disagree with you here, she's not playing as an individual here but as a part of team USA. Would you expect a basketball player to play with a sprained ankle, to just "tough it out"? These games are as much mental as physical.
Then she also let her team down. Also apples and oranges.
...he says from his Lazy-Boy, a bag of Cheetos in his lap....
It's unlikely Simone Biles cares if you respect her or not, and it's even more unlikely that she'd be willing to jeopardize her physical well-being so as not to disappoint you.
If she were your daughter would you feel the same? "C'mon, honey, get out there and permanently injure yourself so some dipshit in a Barcalounger will respect you!"
Just stating an opinion. Couldn't care if she respects me or not.
As you spew your BS from your recliner...Barely able to bend over to pick up the cheeto you dropped... Another armchair gymnast who DIDN'T make it to the Olympics
I spew only opinion. How you receive and process it is your problem.
