Having a partner who understands you in every phase is ideal. The Green Bay Packers safety Jonathan Owens finds himself lucky, too. Besides cheering for Owens from the sidelines, his wife and global star Simone Biles cares for his mental health too, which the 28-year-old recently admitted.
The Olympic gymnast and the NFL athlete married for the second time in a big destination wedding in May. Since then, the two have been supporting each other, respecting their individual careers, and are also in the process of moving to their custom-built dream house. All of this sounds like a fairy-tale and stress-free romance. However, it isn’t entirely true. As athletes, they also have to suffer from multiple sources of stress, just like Owens recently revealed, detailing how his life had changed after meeting his wife.
Simone Biles is Jonathan Owens’s support system!
In a recent episode of The Pivot Podcast, Jonathan Owens was invited to talk about his “NFL’s draft, playoff push, wife Simone Biles, and mental health.” Owens recalled how Biles helped him deal with the constant spotlight and public scrutiny. Owens was asked about Biles and how, being a significant advocate in the mental health space, she supported him through the challenges of being a pro-NFL player with many ups and downs.
Owens responded with an example: “We had a conversation before the first game,” wherein Biles noticed he was “overthinking and slowing down.” Biles pointed out he seemed slower and more cautious on the field. At first, he didn’t believe her, but then he admitted that she was right. Owens said that he tends to analyze things a lot, affecting his performance and making him hesitant during games. The Olympic star helped him realize he was experiencing “paralysis by analysis,” where he was so focused on everything that he froze.
This made him work on himself and seek guidance to overcome this mental block. The safety informed that he sought advice and regularly spoke to a sports psychologist to improve his mental state. His wife supported him throughout this process and admired his growth, especially during a game against the Rams, where he felt faster and more confident in his decisions.
Simone Biles’ advocacy for mental health and her supportive role played a crucial part in her husband’s journey to conquer his fears. Likewise, the gymnast herself faced mental health challenges, leading her to withdraw from competitions to prioritize her well-being and avoid potential physical risks.
A step back to move forward!
At just 26 years old, Simone Biles has been conquering the gymnastics world and the Olympics with seven medals. However, being a sports star and human, she also has her fair share of struggles in her life. This challenging phase reached its peak in 2021 when suddenly Biles started “struggling with a dangerous condition where gymnasts lose their sense of spatial awareness,” popularly known as “Twisties.” This condition posed a considerable amount of risk to her physical safety.
Precision and control are crucial in gymnastics, and being mentally and physically aware is essential. Biles realized that although she was physically fine, her mental state wasn’t, posing risks to her overall health. She clarified that she didn’t quit but highlighted the disconnection between her body and mind. Later, after returning even stronger, Biles informed her fans that therapy played a vital role in rediscovering her love for gymnastics, helping her become more comfortable and less anxious.
Simone Biles’ openness about her mental health challenges has contributed to changing perceptions in sports, inspiring many, including her husband.
