Taylor Swift proves once again that she’s the friend everybody needs.
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics paved the way for Simone Biles to show the world that she’s as human as everybody else after stepping away from several gymnastics finals to prioritize her mental health.
The superstar athlete returned to the Olympic stage on August 3 to compete in the balance beam competition. To celebrate her return, the Artist of the Decade recorded a very special message for Simone that not only encouraged the gymnast but also her fans back home.
NBC shared a clip featuring the four-time gold medallist as she gets ready for her turn on the balance beam with Taylor’s 2020 hit “This is Me Trying” playing. The singer narrated, “When you have the attention of the world, everything you do takes on a bigger meaning. It can be a heavy burden. It can be a chance to change everything.”
Her voice has been as significant as her talents.
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 3, 2021
Her honesty as beautiful as the perfection that has long been her signature.@taylorswift13 gets us ready to watch @simone_biles on the beam.
Tonight. 8 p.m. ET. NBC and https://t.co/FmEtvutDRA. pic.twitter.com/80OMD6hI9X
Then it cut to a video of the gymnast during a press conference where she explained, “putting mental health first, because it shows how strong of a competitor and person that you really are.”
Meanwhile, the Grammy winner reflected, “Throughout the last week, her voice has been as significant as her talents, her honesty as beautiful as the perfection that had long been her signature. But don’t you see? It still is. She’s perfectly human. And that’s what makes it so easy to call her a hero. Simone Biles. Back on the beam. In Tokyo.”
Simone revealed that she was very touched by Taylor’s message and after watching the video which was appropriately titled, “Trying”. She tweeted, “I’m crying” adding “how special. I love you @taylorswift13.”
Taylor responded to her tweet around 30 minutes later telling the gymnast, “I cried watching YOU. I feel so lucky to have gotten to watch you all these years, but this week was a lesson in emotional intelligence and resilience. We all learned from you. Thank you.”
Simone, who is referred to as the GOAT in gymnastics, withdrew from several competitions including the team final, individual all-around, uneven bars, vault, and floor competitions. She came back for the balance beam and won the bronze medal. It is her seventh Olympic medal.
