When Role Models Come Back We Flip Out

The legends are back. And girls everywhere are flipping out.

Stunning crowds as they leapt from floor to beam to bars, Olympians Simone Biles , Sunisa Lee , and Jordan Chiles sprang back into action this month with all eyes set on next week’s 2023 U.S. Championships in San Jose, California and then Paris Summer Olympics in 2024.

Why are we so excited?

Because when role models at the top of their game step away from competition to focus on mental health (Biles and a case of the “twisties ”), physical health (Lee and kidney issues ), or training health (Chiles), it sends a message to athletes and non-athletes alike:

Prioritizing yourself is allowed. In fact, it’s essential.

As girls head back to school, to the gym, or other extracurriculars with public expectations attached, it’s important for them to witness winners pressing pause.

What did girls at être , a mentorship platform that connects the next gen to female leaders, want to know about the return of these role models? Many of the same things we’ve all been wondering:

What did it feel like to come back to competition after so much time?

"It felt really good, especially after everything that’s happened over the past year," Biles told NBC after taking first place at the 2023 U.S. Classic in Chicago on August 5th. "Everyone that was cheering, made posters and all of that, it just made my heart melt that they still believe in me. I always kind of knew, as soon as everything that happened in Tokyo [that I'd be back]."

“It gives me a very big confidence boost,” Lee acknowledged after her U.S. Classic performance. “Actually, I didn’t think I was going to score that high on beam, and then, I saw the score and I was like, ‘Whoa!’”

“I’m feeling really good,” Chiles agreed . “My main focus is Worlds, so I’m just gonna go into Championships and do as best as I can and see how everything turns out. I’m really excited for Championships, especially debuting my new floor routine and everything like that.”

Was it hard to tune out naysayers or people who had different expectations?

Not if you simply stop talking about your sport for a bit.?Simone Biles’ social media was jam-packed with wedding plans this year, but contained little mention of training in the gym. Why? She had a plan and chose to protect it.

With silence and style Biles kept her training schedule and competition goals to herself, exploding back onto the scene on June 28th when the roster for the U.S. Classic was released.

Similarly, Sunisa Lee didn’t offer a torrent of posts about the impact of her health issues on her training, but simply said that she was “just taking it day by day.” Any news was hers to share – or not.

What’s next?

“We’re still in the working steps,” said Biles brightly when asked by a reporter about Paris.

“My main goal was this [U.S. Classic] and then Championships. And then after that we’ll look on to Worlds and then we’ll see. But so far, it’s heading in the right direction. But I still have to work on myself. I’m still going to do my therapy. I’m going to put myself first.”

Statements like this trend on Instagram for a reason. Girls are watching. être’s national confidence study showed that not only are today’s girls looking for role model inspo on social media, but more than 3 in 4 would follow someone on social to get help finding a mentor. Watching Biles, Lee and Chiles return to their sport this summer offered a multitude of “mentor moments.”

What are 3 takeaways as we bask in the return of these role models and watch where they stick the landing next?

• Mental and physical wellness are crucial and irrefutably connected
• Goals matter and it’s up to you to define and safeguard them
• Success is defined by where you set the bar, not by those who watch you clear it

We’ll be watching next week’s championships and cheering for these leaders – for the examples they set as much as the routines they perform.

Looking forward,

Illana

êXTRAS: Three more returning role model athletes you won’t want to miss: Gabby Douglas (announced July 13th ), Jade Carey (as of June 27th ), and Shilese Jones (also as of June 27th ).