There is something wrong with her bowing out of a competition due to mental health issues? There is something wrong with calling that brave? No, there is nothing wrong with calling that brave. Doing what you think is best for your team and yourself despite the fact that you know you'll likely lose a bunch of money, and be criticized/looked down on/judged by millions and millions of clueless old men on the internet IS brave.

Gymnastics is a sport. It is entertainment. She isn't fighting a war, she is putting her physical and mental health on the line for YOUR entertainment (and she is being rewarded handsomely for it of course). Simone choosing to do what is best for her rather than what you want her to do is brave, and I believe it sets a good example for women everywhere. Also, if she had decided to continue on and push through whatever it was that she is struggling with, she would still be brave.

THAT is absolutely the message that I want my daughters to hear. I don't want my daughters growing up in a world where they are objectified at every turn and told by some grumpy old man on the internet whether or not they are good enough. Women are constantly told by the world that what the world wants them to be, what the world wants them to do is what matters most, and that needs to stop. I want my daughters to feel like they can do what is best for themselves, and that is between them and God, and that's it. Simone's worth is not decided by what she does or doesn't do at the olympics. I'm very happy that people are recognizing this.