Miriam Bastia Vera is 26 years old and she is from Madrid. Furthermore, she is studying her second-year Journalism at Universidad Europea Miguel de Cervantes. Miriam has a strong interest in sports and communication, which has led her to pursue a career in journalism. In her free time, she enjoys following different sports. In the future, she would like to specialize in sports journalism and work in the media industry.
Simone Biles and Carolina Marín have both become powerful voices in the conversation around mental health in elite sports. Simone Biles brought global attention to the issue when she prioritized her well-being during the Olympic Games, showing that even the greatest athletes need to step back. Carolina Marín has also spoken openly about the emotional challenges of injuries and high expectations, emphasizing resilience beyond physical recovery. For both athletes, mental health is not a weakness but a crucial part of performance and personal identity. They have highlighted how constant pressure to win can affect focus, happiness, and long-term health. Without the burden of competition, they often describe feeling a sense of relief and clarity. This space allows them to reconnect with themselves beyond medals and rankings. It also gives them time to heal mentally, reflect, and regain motivation in a healthier way. Their perspectives challenge the traditional idea that success must come at any cost. Ultimately, both athletes show that stepping away from pressure can be an act of strength and self-respect.
This interview is part of a monographic project carried out by my student Miriam Bastia Vera, focusing on the figures of Simone Biles and Carolina Marín and the impact of their mental health in the Professional English course of the Journalism degree.
Ruth Amarilis Cotto
1. Can you describe the childhood of Simone Biles and Carolina Marín? What challenges did they face when they were young?
Simon Biles was born in 1997 in Ohio, United States. She had a difficult childhood spent in foster care alongside her sister, due to the drug addiction problems suffered by her biological mother, Shanon Biles. Because of these addictions, her biological mother was unable to provide consistent care for her children, leading to problems such as a lack of supervision or basic routines. As a result, when Simone was three years old, social services intervened, removing custody of the children from Shanon and placing them in foster care. She moved through various foster homes, facing constant uncertainty and a severe lack of emotional stability. At the age of six, her maternal grandparents (Ron and Nellie Biles) decided to adopt Simone and one of her sisters. This moment provided lasting stability for both Simone and her sister, Adria. Their lives changed; they now had a routine, emotional support and the resources to develop properly. This period left its mark on Simone, giving her resilience from an early age and an emotional awareness that she herself has highlighted when speaking about how her past gave her great mental strength. Despite all this, Simone discovered artistic gymnastics at a very young age during a school trip and proved to have an exceptional talent for it.
Carolina Marín was born in 1993 in Huelva, Spain. Her childhood was spent in a more stable environment than Simone’s, although she had to make great sacrifices from a young age to continue developing in the sport she was passionate about. She grew up in a stable and supportive environment. When she was three years old, her mother enrolled her in flamenco classes at her local community centre, and dancing was her vocation for years. Until, at the age of eight, she discovered badminton by chance at school. At the age of 12, she gave up flamenco to dedicate herself entirely to badminton. Her father, Gonzalo Marín, accompanied her to matches, forging a special father-daughter relationship. Carolina was highly competitive and possessed great willpower, which led her to move to the Joaquín Blume Residence for High-Performance Athletes in Madrid. This decision meant that she had to leave her family and move to the capital on her own, leaving behind her hometown, her family and her friends at the age of fourteen. From that moment on, she had to cope with strict routines involving daily training, studies and controlled rest periods. She also had to deal with being away from her family most of the time, which led to moments of loneliness and homesickness. Living at the High-Performance Centre for athletes meant she had to cope with feelings of loneliness, extreme demands and the need to mature early. The residence was key to her career, as it was there where she met her actual coach, Fernando Rivas, who encouraged her to reach her full potential and become the player she is today.
2. How did Simone Biles show strength during difficult moments in her life?
In my opinion, Simone Biles’ greatest display of strength came when she withdrew from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. During the competition, Simone experienced what is described in her Netflix documentary “Simone Biles Rising” as a disconnect between mind and body. Biles stepped away from the competition to focus on her mental health, staying on the sidelines to cheer on her teammates of the US team. She gave interviews to the press and explained the danger of losing mental focus in her sport. In doing so, Simone faced the risk of being criticised by the public and disappointing all the fans who had placed their trust in her. But she firmly defended the importance of mental health and the values of self-care and support. Strength is not just a physical thing. Strength is not continuing to compete when you know you are risking your life by failing to coordinate mind and body. Strength is what Biles did: stopping when you can’t go on, looking after yourself and learning to come back stronger.
3. Carolina Marín had serious injuries. How did she recover and stay motivated?
Carolina Marin suffered her first injury during the final of the 2019 Indonesia Masters. At the best moment of her career, having just been crowned Olympic champion at Rio 2016, as well as world and European champion, she tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee, marking the start of her first recovery. It was a difficult process during which she required the support of two psychologists, in addition to ten hours of rehabilitation every day. She was out of competition for aro7 months, setting herself the goal of recover for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, but due to Covid-19, these were postponed until 2021. Just one month before the Olympic Games were due to take place, Carolina Marín suffered another injury. This time it was a torn cruciate ligament in her left knee and two meniscus tears. As a result, and as she herself says in her documentary “Carolina Marín: la lucha infinita”, she was plagued by fears and insecurities about herself due to her knee injuries. She began to fear not being able to finish a match or beat her opponent. She also feared letting herself and her team down. Her recovery process this time was more complicated than the last one; the injuries and the death of her father were a devasting blow for Carolina. She felt great frustration because she wanted to push herself to recover as quick as possible. Thanks to her team and her own determination, Carolina took all that frustration and turned it into motivation, setting her sights on the Paris 2024 Olympic Games as her new goal. The injuries and the death of her father were a devasting blow for Carolina. Despite all this, Carolina Marín proved herself to be a fighter with great resilience. She achieved her goal of competing at the Paris Olympics, with the mindset of going there to win the gold medal. Unfortunately, she injured her knee again in the semi-finals. Despite all this, Carolina managed to return to her best form in Paris following her injuries; she proved to be a shining example of overcoming adversity, a source of inspiration, and embodied the values of determination, courage and resilience both on and off the court.
4. Why is mental health important for athletes like Simone Biles?
In sport, mental health plays a crucial role in be able to manage pressure, maintaining focus and achieving peak performance. In artistic gymnastics, a single mistake can lead to a serious accident. The discipline practised by Simone Biles is dangerous, and for this reason, it is essential to maintain a connection between body and mind to perform the routines correctly and safely. In elite sport, athletes face situations where they must cope with intense stress, high expectations and physical challenges that can affect their general health and their mental health. An athlete must keep their mind focused, as this enables them to improve their concentration, attention, coordination and emotional management. Athletes like Simone train for years under constant pressure from competitions, winning medals and meeting the expectations of the public, their coaches and sponsors. If mental health is not looked after, problems such as anxiety, depression or mental blocks can arise. Simone Biles spoke about the “twisties”, which is a mental disconnection that causes one to lose their bearings in the air (something we saw happen to Simone in Tokyo 2020). This does not only affect performance, as I mentioned earlier, it can also lead to serious injuries. The fact that Simone Biles paused and prioritised her mental health helped to break down stigmas surrounding the pressure elite athletes face and highlighted the importance of asking for help and setting boundaries.
5. Simone Biles decided to stop competing in some events at the Olympics. Why was this decision important?
Simone Biles’ decision was significant for several reasons. On the one hand, her decision to withdraw from competition was essential to protect her physical well-being. In a sport like gymnastics, where millimetre-precise coordination is required to perform the routines, being off-balanced turns every jump into a risk of serious injury. On the other hand, this decision challenged certain notions, such as the idea that elite athletes are superhuman figures who must persevere at all costs. What was once considered heroism was precisely the act of continuing even when this supposed a serious health risk. With this action, Simone managed to change this entrenched narrative and redefine what we understand by mental strength. Previously, it was associated with perseverance, but now it is beginning to be understood as the ability to recognise limits and act accordingly, which involves self-awareness, emotional regulation and the capacity of making decision under pressure. Furthermore, following Simone’s decision, other athletes began to speak more openly about anxiety, burnout and depression. Federations and teams began to include sports psychologists in their set-ups, and the public began to see elite athletes as human beings rather than superhumans. Simone redefined the meaning of success, shifting the focus from only the result to also the process and the decisions that protect athletes’ health and careers in the long term.
6. How did Carolina Marín feel when she won big championships after her injuries?
Carolina Marín returned from injury to win the 2022 and 2024 European Championships, the 2023 European Games and the 2024 All England. She achieved her goal of returning to the world’s top 4 and securing a strong qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Carolina spoke of how these victories feel twice as good because you know everything you have had to overcome to get there. Winning again after a serious injury doesn’t just mean beating your opponent, it also means overcoming a tough personal recovery process. Suffering injuries as severe as Carolina’s creates a fear of not being able to return to the same level as before, not performing as well, or the fear of a relapse. For Carolina, being crowned champion of major tournaments once again proved that she had managed to recover and return to a superb level of competition. The victory marks the end of a difficult period, a confirmation of her ability to continue competing and an emotional release.
7. What can we learn about resilience from Simone Biles and Carolina Marín?
Resilience is the human capacity to respond flexibly to extreme situations, to overcome them and emerge stronger, adapting positively to adversity. Carolina Marín and Simone Biles embody resilience from different perspectives: the ability to come back and the wisdom to know when to stop.
Firstly, Carolina Marín demonstrated her extraordinary resilience by returning to top form after suffering multiple injuries. Marín’s resilience lies in her perseverance, in her daily commitment to improvement, in rebuilding herself bit by bit whilst managing frustration and doubt to return to competing at the highest level. Her ability to reinvent herself is based on immense physical and mental sacrifice. Looking back to her early days, the path was not easy. In a sport historically dominated by Asia, Carolina Marín gradually carved out a place for herself until she reached the very top. She won European and world championships, writing her name into the story of badminton. Then came the injuries, but she did not let them spell the end; Marín rebuilt herself with patience and discipline, returning to the world’s top four. After each injury, she came back as a different player, demonstrating an evolution in her game, her preparation and her mindset. Although she has now announced her retirement from professional badminton, there is no doubt that her name has been etched forever in the glory of this sport.
Secondly, Simone Biles has taught us that the concept of resilience has a key nuance: it is not always about enduring more; it is also important to know when to stop. As I said at the start, resilience is about facing extreme situations and overcome them. Simone Biles demonstrated the courage and clarity to listen to herself when something wasn’t right, even when everyone’s eyes were on her and expected her to carry on. Simone has taught us that performance cannot be separated from well-being because if the mind fails, the body will too. In her case, resilience meant having the courage to recognise that something was not right and to stop, even when you are on top of the world. When she returned to competition, she taught us that resilience is not just about come back; it is about returning with a deeper sense of honesty with yourself, redefining what success means and setting aside external pressure. Being resilient also means knowing how to listen to yourself, setting boundaries and rebuilding yourself without losing sight of who you are in the process.
8. How did their families influence their careers and personal lives?
Their families influence them in different ways, as they came from different backgrounds. On the one hand, as we mentioned earlier, Simone Biles’s childhood was not an easy one. She had to cope with an unstable home life and spent time in various foster homes until her maternal grandparents adopted her at the age of six. This was the turning point that finally gave her emotional stability and a safe environment to live. Because of this, she was able to grow up with confidence and focus on her sporting development. Her grandparents supported her without putting excessive pressure on her, which allowed her to make important decisions such as prioritising her mental health at the Tokyo Olympics. Her family continues to be one of her main sources of emotional support. They provide her with a trusting environment where she can be herself without the pressure to perform. Her family acts as an anchor, helping her to stay connected to her personal well-being amidst the demands of elite sport.
On the other hand, Carolina Marín’s childhood was more peaceful. From a young age, it was key to fostering values such as discipline, hard work and confidence. They supported her in continue in a sport that was little known in Spain and helped her chase her dream. They were there through the best and worst moments in her life, giving her the support she needed to recover and return to competing at the highest level. Her father was a very important figure in her life; he accompanied her to matches from the beginning and they shared a very special bond, as Carolina’s mother explains in the documentary “Carolina Marín: la lucha infinita”. In short, her family has played and continues to play a vital role in her life, particularly during the most challenging times Carolina has faced.
9. What are some of the most important sports achievements of both athletes?
Simone Biles has won multiple Olympic medals (7 golds, 2 silvers and 2 bronzes), she is one of the most decorated gymnasts in the world, with a total of over 25 medals. She has also won the Laureus World Sports Award for Female Athlete of the Year (in 2017, 2019, 2020 and 2025), one of the most prestigious awards in world sports. In 2022, Simone was awarded with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honour in the United States. She has pioneered new moves in her sport and is considered the greatest gymnast of all time.
Carolina Marín won gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics, becoming the first Spanish person to do so in badminton. She is three-time world champion (in 2014, 2015 and 2018) becoming the first non-Asian player to achieve such dominance in this competition. She has also been European champion seven times (in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022 and 2024), reached number one in the world rankings and won the Princess of Asturias Award of Sports in 2024, one of the most prestigious awards in Spain.
10. How do Simone Biles and Carolina Marín inspire young people around the world?
The careers of Simone Biles and Carolina Marín have transcended the world of sport to become true sources of inspiration for young people. Although they compete in different disciplines, both embody fundamental values such as resilience, hard-working and perseverance, making them role models both on and off the field. Biles demonstrates the importance of looking after one’s mental health and staying true to oneself. Carolina embodies perseverance and the ability to overcome adversity. Together, they convey the message that true success lies not only in winning, but also in growing as a person, overcoming difficulties and working hard to pursue your dreams.
Razón: La entrevista a la alumna del grado de periodismo semipresencial, Miriam Bastia Vera, y elaborada por la profesora de Professional English del mismo grado, Ruth Amarilis Cotto Benítez, habla de la importancia de la salud mental en deportistas de élite.
Temática: La salud mental en el deporte de élite.
Profesor: Ruth Amarilis Cotto.
Especialización: Filología Inglesa. Dpto. Ciencias Sociales (UEMC).
