Naomi Osaka made headlines in July 2021 when she wrote in ‘Time‘ magazine, “Michael Phelps told me that by speaking up I may have saved a life.” This statement came weeks before the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, as Osaka reflected on her decision to prioritize her mental health by skipping press conferences at Roland Garros. “If that’s true, then it was all worth it,” she added.
Osaka’s decision to withdraw from the French Open after receiving criticism and a fine for her non-attendance at press conferences sparked a global conversation about mental health in sports. The four-time Grand Slam winner explained, “Athletes are humans. Tennis is our privileged profession, and of course, there are commitments off the court that coincide. But I can’t imagine another profession where a consistent attendance record (I have missed one press conference in my seven years on tour) would be so harshly scrutinized.”
MICHAEL PHELPS: SUPPORTING OSAKA
Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time with 28 medals, was one of the first to publicly support Osaka. Phelps, who has been open about his struggles with mental health, particularly after each of his five Olympic Games appearances, praised Osaka for her courage.
“As a male athlete, I could tell something was off,” Phelps shared in an interview with ‘NBC’. “But I think I saw it as a sign of weakness and if I shared anything about it then it would give my competitors an edge.” He added, “I had to learn vulnerability is a good thing… it was scary at first, but I learned that vulnerability just means change. And for me, it was a great change.”
Phelps commended Osaka for using her platform to advocate for mental health, saying, “It’s pretty powerful to see Naomi use her platform and take this time for herself. She wants to get herself better. I think this is incredible; I think it’s awesome.”
SIMONE BILES: INSPIRED BY OSAKA TO
Another athlete deeply influenced by Osaka’s stand was Simone Biles. The American gymnastics icon, who holds 30 world championship medals, cited Osaka as an inspiration when she withdrew from the team final at Tokyo 2020 due to mental health concerns. Biles experienced the “twisties,” a dangerous condition where gymnasts lose spatial awareness mid-air, and decided to step back after her first apparatus, the vault.
Biles later explained her decision, saying, “(Naomi) is speaking up about mental health, and I think it is really important that athletes put their mental health first, because, at the end of the day, that is what is going to determine how well we go out there and compete in whatever sport that is.”
Despite missing several finals, Biles returned to compete in the beam final six days later, earning a bronze medal. Reflecting on the experience, she wrote on social media, “The outpouring of love & support I’ve received has made me realize I am more than my accomplishments and gymnastics, which I never truly believed before.”
OTHER ATHLETES JOIN THE CONVERSATION
Osaka and Biles’ actions have inspired other athletes to speak openly about mental health. British diver Tom Daley, who won gold at Tokyo 2020, praised Biles, saying, “We should all be inspired by the strength she showed. That it’s OK not to be OK.”
Similarly, British gymnast Jessica Gadirova shared her experience of receiving support from Brazilian Olympic champion Rebeca Andrade after suffering an ACL injury at the 2023 World Championships. “She sent me a very long message, and it was so sweet,” Gadirova said. “She just shows that anything is possible. No matter how many times you get knocked down, you can always come up.”
