Simone Biles Rising (??.??.??)

 

I don’t know if you noticed, but the year 2020 was really weird. One of the events where this was particularly apparent was the Tokyo Olympics, where athletes performed to empty bleachers and were required to put medals around their own necks if they were lucky enough to win. But even with these COVID oddities there was one particular moment that stood out—the moment when Simone Biles, arguably one of the best gymnasts of all time, decided to sit out most of her competitions after a handful of botched performances with little to no explanation why. At the time, absolutely everyone had an opinion on what had happened, and now, on the eve of the 2024 Paris Olympics, Biles herself is setting the record straight once and for all in Simone Biles Rising, a triumphant and inspiring documentary that sheds light on not only her own troubles but also the need for better mental health accommodations in the world of professional sports and beyond.

Simone Biles Rising is refreshingly candid as it delves into just what went down in Japan and what Biles has done since to take control of her mental and emotional wellbeing. Her problems are often so relatable and understandable that it is sometimes easy to forget that this is an international superstar we are talking about and not just some “normal” person with a regular 8-to-5 career. A lot of this comes down to Biles’ likeability as a person, and a lot of it has to do with the documentary crew never failing to ground the pomp and glamor of the Olympic stage with interview clips of those who know Biles best, such as her mother Nellie and her husband Jonathan Owens, whom she married in 2023 (and who played for the Packers, but I suppose I should forgive him now that he’s with Chicago). Somehow the documentary made it easy for me, a guy who has never done so much as a cartwheel, to see myself in and sympathize with her position.

Mental health has never been a priority in any competitive endeavor, and this is something that Simone Biles wants to see changed. Rising is a fascinating look behind the Olympic curtain and also a call for all those who are suffering from unresolved mental afflictions to seek out help when needed and to also know that they are not alone in their suffering. If Simone Biles can break down in front of the world and come back stronger, we all can.

Simone Biles Rising isn’t just an exploration of the past and present, but also a fun and exciting preview of what is to come. Biles will once again be competing in the Olympics this year in Paris, and I can’t wait to see how the true ending of this documentary plays out in real-time. Win or lose, Simone Biles will be going out on her own terms.

There are currently two episodes of Simone Biles Rising available on Netflix, with more coming in the fall.

 

This review has not been published in the Keizertimes yet and may not be ever at this point, but here is the link anyway-  www.keizertimes.com/