Why we need to stop asking athletes to save the world

Simone Biles’s withdrawal from the 2020 Tokyo Games due to concerns was met with shock, empathy, compassion, and of course the usual critics and outrage machines.

When I look at Simone Biles the athlete, I see a dominant once-in-a-lifetime talent. She has been called the Great Gymnast of all time with several moves named after her because she was the first to do them in competition. Her athletic skills are undeniable and many were saddened to see her withdraw from the competition because she was one of the main draws for this pandemic…