Tom Brady voices support for Naomi Osaka, Simone Biles on mental health issues
Naomi Osaka.
You too, Simone Biles.
The man with a record seven Super Bowl championship rings has surely noticed and on some levels can relate to the high-profile struggles two of the world’s most successful athletes have encountered this summer, which have raised awareness about the challenges of coping with immense pressure.
Osaka, 23, withdrew from the French Open in May while citing mental health issues, skipped Wimbledon and, after a third-round upset on Friday in attempting to defend her U.S. Open singles title, tearfully announced that she will take an indefinite break from the sport.
Biles, 24, pulled out of four individual finals during the Tokyo Olympics before returning to win a bronze medal in the balance beam final. A seven-time Olympic medalist, Biles hasn’t declared whether she will continue competing.
Matt Nagy, Zac Taylor on notice ahead of Week 1 in 2021
You’d think that perhaps no NFL player would understand pressures confronting Osaka and Biles more than Brady, who is ramping up to lead the defending champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers into the NFL’s kickoff season opener against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night. He was 24 when he won his first Super Bowl with the New England Patriots in the 2001 season and achieved his success over many years while under intense scrutiny.