Simone Biles and G.O.A.T. EQ

Simone Biles - the greatest of all time (G.O.A.T.) in gymnastics. We all knew that her physical prowess was unparalleled. And now we should consider how her emotional intelligence may be similarly off the charts.

Afflicted with a severe case of the “twisties” - a disorienting phenomenon not uncommon in her line of work - Simone sat herself down and gave herself a chance to reclaim her calm, focus, and confidence. She was widely praised for attending so ardently to her wellness above all else. (She would eventually return to competition, claiming a bronze medal on the balance beam, aptly enough.)

But maybe we shouldn’t view her plight as her needing to fix something.  Maybe instead we consider how superior she is at knowing her own body, mind, and spirit.  Maybe we consider how finely attuned she is to every twitch of muscle as well as every tiny strand of emotion.  Her uncanny mastery at predicting the future, making critical decisions based on the most subtle data points.  Maybe she decided to withdraw because all (emotional intelligence) systems were working as they should, and the warning signs that most of us would never notice or know what to do with were signs that she expertly detected and responded to, flawlessly.

What if, in addition to being one of the most preternaturally talented athletes that ever lived, she is also one of the most emotionally gifted human beings too?  If she can pull off a Yurchenko entry double piked salto backwards, would you doubt that she can perfectly maneuver her emotional experience as well?

We still probably don’t know the whole story, and we don’t need to know either.  But whatever she’s been going through, it seems like she’s been doing all the right things.  I fully expect she will stick this landing.