An Update From the Olympics

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR: Selina, it is extraordinary. Everybody has been focusing on Simone Biles. What’s the mood there? Is there that sense of anticipation about her coming back? What she might achieve tomorrow?

SELINA WANG, INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Christiane, absolutely. This is a very high stakes return for Simone Biles. This would be her last opportunity to take home gold at these Olympics after withdrawing from several events saying she wanted to focus on her mental health. Now, she’s returning to the balance beam. But, however, Christiane, as early as Friday, she had posted on Instagram that she was still dealing with this mental block that gymnasts call the twisties. She said she literally could not tell up from down and that it was terrifying to try skills without her mind and body syncing together. However, balance beam requires less of the twisting, so it could be more manageable given that she’s still dealing with this mental block. But I have to say that the reception among other athletes here as well as much of the public has been incredibly positive. Simone Biles may have pulled back but she has sparked this global conversation about mental health among elite athletes. She is being applauded for having the courage to know when to step back to protect herself, because people recognize that gymnastics is a dangerous sport and that when she is not mentally in the right state, it could have serious repercussions for her physical abilities. And, Christiane, she’s definitely not holding back. I was at the individual event finals on Sunday and I could hear her all the way across the stands cheering on her teammates, standing up, taking on this role almost of coach as well.