Simone Biles is the most decorated gymnast in history; there is a reason she is known as the Greatest of All Time aka The GOAT, after all! But another reason to love the Olympian is for her advocacy for mental health.
Biles has long been open about her own mental health, particularly about her struggles with anxiety. Biles withdrew from the women’s team final and four subsequent individual finals at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 in order to take care of her mental health after experiencing “the twisties.”
While this was not an easy decision, it was an important and necessary one. Biles’ choice to prioritize her well-being sparked an important conversation about athletics and mental health.
Now, in a recent interview with Healthline, the gymnast opened up even more about her mental health, specifically in regards to how her French bull dogs Lilo and Rambo help support her mental wellness.
“Lilo and Rambo do such a great job of keeping me grounded and bringing me comfort, especially during stressful times,” Biles explained to Healthline.
This makes sense. According to The American Heart Association, a 2022 survey found that 95 percent of pet parents rely on their pet for stress relief. That survey also discovered that pets help their humans destress through snuggling, making their pet parents laugh and helping to ease feelings of loneliness.
Dogs just make life better. As Biles told Healthline:
“My dogs have had such a positive impact on my mental health, I can’t imagine where I’d be without them. Pets offer a love and support that is truly unconditional, and they do such a good job of reminding us to stay grounded and cherish the present.”
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