Simone Biles, the most decorated American gymnast, shared that she carries "emergency" anxiety medication in her travel bag. The seven-time Olympic gold medalist revealed this in an Instagram video on Sunday, explaining that the medication is for sudden panic or nervousness, particularly before or during flights.
During the video, Biles showed fans the contents of her bag, which also included other travel essentials like an extra phone and makeup.
This admission follows recent health concerns for Biles. In early June, she disclosed a frightening medical emergency that required hospitalization, describing it as one of the scariest experiences of her life. She posted on Instagram about the incident, sharing photos of hospital wristbands and mentioning she was resting. She vowed to provide more details when she felt ready.
Weeks after the initial emergency, Biles faced criticism from online trolls after posting vacation photos following her hospitalization. She responded to the comments, sharing updates on her well-being via TikTok and Instagram. Last Thursday, she was in the hospital again for an undisclosed procedure, sharing a photo with her husband, NFL player Jonathan Owens, from her hospital room.
Biles has previously been open about her mental health and struggles with performance anxiety. During the 2024 Olympics, she spoke about feeling overwhelmed in the Olympic Village, experiencing shaking in the cafeteria due to anxiety and avoiding crowds by keeping food in her room.