Tom Brady voices support for Naomi Osaka, Simone Biles on mental health issues
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Tom Brady feels for you, 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 worldās 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 hasnāt declared whether she will continue competing.
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āItās interesting,ā Brady told USA TODAY Sports in August. āI think there are so many young people in sports. Obviously, Naomiās really young. Simoneās really young. Iām 44. When I was 24, I certainly didnāt have all the answers to all the different pressures and the adversities that you face. I donāt know if we have expectations for people that we should have all the answers, have all things figured out at young ages.
āItās very difficult to deal with a lot of things that are thrust upon you when you have a degree of success. Things in your family dynamics change. Youāre still learning and growing. Youāre going through a lot at 21, 22, 23, 24, just as a human being. And now youāre dealing with it on the world stage. So, thereās absolutely challenges to be dealt with and adversities to overcome at that age. Even at 44, youāre dealing with different things and adversities. And now you have kids, wives and off-field stuff like we all do in our careers. So, life has its challenges for all of us. You just hope that people can manage them and get through them in as healthy way of a way as possible and that you can learn from them and that they make you into a more self-aware person. And thatās obviously what I hope for Simone and Naomi.ā
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Youād 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 NFLās 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.
When pondering the cases of Osaka and Biles, he pointed out a difference with the nature of their sports as compared to his. In football, heās surrounded by teammates on every play. Biles, although the leading gymnast on the U.S. team, competes individually in her given events. Osakaās tennis greatness is stamped by her prowess as a singles champion, which includes four Grand Slam titles.
Undoubtedly, Osaka and Biles have other pressures as female athletes of color. Yet common ground with Brady comes with high-profile stature and associated demands of managing their careers and personal lives.
How has Brady coped with that?
āI think Iāve really just tried to rely on people that Iām around that can really keep me grounded and stay focused on whatās really important,ā said Brady, a father of three who is married to supermodel Gisele BuĢndchen. āYeah, wins and losses are important for all of us and performing our best. For me, itās always been not trying to let people down. Thatās been a great motivator for me in my career.
āI know my teammates work hard and all the coaches work hard. I always want to feel like I put my team in a position to be successful. So, thatās a big part of my motivation. I probably would have never done well in individual sports. Thereās different psychological challenges for those two. So, I have a great group of teammates; I rely on them to help me when Iām not where I want to be. Thatās just a blessing about playing team sports. I admire the people that can deal with them individually and itās definitely a challenge.ā
Itās also a given that Brady has endured his share of setbacks and gut checks over the course of his long career. Although the cases of Biles and Osaka are unique to their individual circumstances, Brady knows something about the lessons that come with adversity.
āThatās sports,ā Brady said. āYouāre always going to have low points. Things arenāt going to go the way you want. A lot of times you learn more in your losses than you do in your victories. Itās great to win. But the self-evaluation is a lot different when things are more difficult and when things arenāt going well.ā
Brady knows. Being one of the greatest ever doesnāt happen without some serious pressure.