The fallout from Simone Biles’ stunning withdrawal from the team and individual all-around competitions continues. But what about another GOAT at the Games, Katie Ledecky? How did she feel about Biles and the challenges of mental health in an athletic setting? As Henry Bushnell writes, “Greatness, and the attitude it requires, Ledecky explained, ‘is a real blessing and a curse’ … The headline is never ‘Katie Ledecky wins silver.
‘ It’s ‘Katie Ledecky settles for silver,’ or ‘Katie Ledecky loses.’ Biles has had similar experiences. Journalists once told her they’d written stories about her victories before competitions even started. At times, first-place finishes wouldn’t bring happiness, only relief.”
If you’re longing for the days of the old Jordan-Magic-Bird Dream Team, this year’s model did a pretty good imitation Wednesday, destroying Iran 120-66. Every single player on the U.S. roster scored at least four points, and the team as a whole didn’t show much weakness. That’s the good news. The bad? It won’t be anywhere near this easy for the rest of the Olympics. Next up: the Czech Republic.
