Just one day after removing herself from the team finals, gymnastics icon Simone Biles withdrew from the all-around competition at the Olympic Games, citing mental health issues as the reason for her departure.
Michael Bisping is not impressed.
“Quitters never win,” the former UFC middleweight champion wrote on Twitter. “Mental health issues need to be respected. That said, folding to pressure in a sports environment is not a mental health issue, unless I’m missing some details. If so I apologize but from what I read, I don’t think I am.”
Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey, who won a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympic Games, knows a thing or two about pressure on the world stage and was quick to defend Biles from the online critics.
“Everyone judging Simone Biles doesn’t know their foot from their asshole when it comes to being in her position,” Rousey said. “She’s on the Olympic team while you’re on Twitter. Whatever is going on cannot be grasped from outside. She’s doing the absolute best she can given the situation she’s in.”
Rousey abruptly retired from MMA after losing two straight fights.
Still no word yet on what the future holds for Biles, who is widely-considered the face of USA Gymnastics. A decision can be expected relatively soon as individual events get underway in Tokyo in just a few days.
“She’s incredible,” Bisping continued. “What she has achieved is insane. I’m not hating. I’m trying to understand why she pulled out. If it’s because she wasn’t having a good day then that’s pretty weak. Not the lesson we teach our children. Finish the race! Try your best.”
Bisping hung up the gloves after losing to Kelvin Gastelum in late 2017.