When star gymnast Simone Biles chose to withdraw from the team final at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, it sent shockwaves through the sports world. But beyond the media frenzy, her courage left a deep and lasting mark on generations of athletes-like Olivia Dunne, who recently revealed how that moment inspired her to take care of her own mental health.

“I guess it was better that she stepped out… you don’t want to get injured at an Olympic Games,”Livvy said last year during her final season with the LSU Tigers gymnastics team. For her, Simone’s example wasn’t just understandable-it was necessary. The message was clear: it’s not just about medals, it’s about emotional well-being.

Dunne opens up about pressure in women’s gymnastics

With nearly 20 years in the sport, Dunne has experienced the physical and mental toll of elite gymnastics. “Most gymnasts go through that at least once in their career. I did,” she admitted in a recent interview. Like Biles, Livvy also needed help to deal with her own internal struggles.

In her appearance on the YouTube podcast What’s Your Story?, hosted by Steph McMahon, Dunne spoke for the first time about the support system that got her through her darkest moments. She referenced what gymnasts call the “twisties”-a mental disorientation that can put an athlete at serious risk. “I don’t even like saying that word,” she confessed, “but it really is a mental game.”

Olivia on balance and health

Unlike Simone, who in Tokyo was supported by Dr. Marcia Faustin, Olivia found her main source of support in someone closer to home: her aunt, Laura St. John. “She was my mental health coach… she changed my career,” Livvy shared, visibly moved.

That support not only helped her stay grounded during competitions but also pushed her to dream bigger. “To this day, I talk to her, and she helps me bring my dreams to life,” she explained. For Olivia, her aunt wasn’t just an emotional guide-she was a key part of her success in a sport as demanding as artistic gymnastics.

Olivia Dunne retires and closes a chapter

With the end of the NCAA season, Olivia Dunne has officially wrapped up her gymnastics career. Although she and Simone Biles once shared a spot on the U.S. national team, their paths are now diverging. At 22, Livvy is entering a new chapter off the mat, while Simone has yet to define her future.

In an interview with USA Today, Dunne spoke about the possibility of Biles competing at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics: “I don’t know if it’s in her plans… but she’s the greatest of all time.” Meanwhile, Simone kept fans guessing at the Laureus Awards: “Compete? I don’t know… whether it’s on the apparatus or in the stands, I haven’t decided yet.”

Mental health in elite sports

Simone Biles’ example paved the way for athletes like Olivia Dunne to speak out, seek help, and prioritize their well-being. Gymnastics is no longer just about technical perfection-it’s about emotional balance, too.

Thanks to figures like Livvy and Simone, mental health has become a central topic in sports. And that may be one of the most meaningful legacies these athletes can leave for the generations to come.

In a powerful display of resilience, teamwork, and inclusion, eight athletes with disabilities completed the grueling Spartan Race this past weekend with the help of 48 dedicated volunteers, thanks to a partnership between the IM ABLE Foundation, Dealers of Hope, and Oscar Mike.

These athletes—ranging from wheelchair users to individuals living with amputation, spina bifida, pediatric cancer survivorship, traumatic brain injury, autism spectrum disorder, and more—faced one of the most physically and mentally demanding obstacle courses in the country. And they didn’t just participate—they turned heads, shattered expectations, and crossed the finish line like champions.

Participating in the Spartan Race was a new experience for IM ABLE Foundation’s Operation Lead from the Front (OLFTF) program, which provides health and fitness programs designed to empower veterans with disabilities. This initiative’s mission is to cultivate a supportive community where veterans build camaraderie, foster resilience, and unite in a shared commitment to overcoming challenges.

“This wasn’t just about finishing a race. It was about proving what’s possible when we come together and believe in one another,” said Alex A. Pilkington, CEO of the IM ABLE Foundation and an Army veteran. “Our athletes defied expectations and showed the world that ability is not limited by diagnosis.”

The event was made possible by the tireless effort of nearly 50 volunteers who ran alongside, lifted, supported, and celebrated every athlete from the start line to the finish. Many obstacles required human chains, adaptive equipment, and creative teamwork to overcome—and every single athlete crossed the finish line with a smile on their face.

Kyle Keech, a wheelchair user who completed the Spartan this weekend, is an adaptive athlete and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) recovery advocate. Keech shared: “Boy, I’m so glad I kept pushing! I’m still smiling ear to ear! Training with the IM ABLE Foundation and Mmaxout Madness beforehand made all the difference. The love and support I felt were incredible. The course was ‘slightly’ intimidating, but IM ABLE’s presence was truly powerful and left a lasting impact. OORAH!”

Some of the participants trained for 15 weeks with Wendy Mattos Martz of Mmaxout Madness at the IM ABLE facility in Wyomissing. Mattos Martz shared, “Each class was met with an openness and receptivity to tackle whatever I threw at them. In addition, each class was filled with joy, lots of smiles, laughter, and even dancing!”

IM ABLE was proud to partner with two powerhouse organizations for this effort:

Dealers of Hope, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering individuals with seen and unseen challenges to rise, climb, and push beyond limitations through endurance events and obstacle course racing.

Oscar Mike, a veteran-founded nonprofit committed to keeping injured veterans and individuals with disabilities “on-the-move” through programs that build mobility, mental wellness, and community connection.

Together, these organizations created a united force committed to pushing limits, breaking barriers, and lifting others through shared struggle and triumph.

This article was created by AI using a video recording of the meeting. It summarizes the key points discussed, but for full details and context, please refer to the video of the full meeting.

Link to Full Meeting

Converted from School Board Meeting 1/14/2021 – 5:00 PM meeting on July 15, 2025


Link to Full Meeting

Atlanta and Los Angeles: CAREGD Trademark Leads Mental Health Check-In Tour. The culture-forward wellness brand activated barbershops, fire stations, and courts with emotional check-ins, bold merch, and real talk-reminding communities across ATL and LA: your headspace comes first.
Image: https://authoritypresswire.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/CAREGD-me-first-then-sports-Ranch.jpg

Atlanta, GA – CAREGDImage: https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72×72/2122.png, a culture-forward wellness brand, activated across Atlanta and Los Angeles during Mental Health Awareness Month-hosting check-ins with athletes, barbers, and firefighters to make emotional wellness visible in overlooked spaces.

Through a series of grassroots conversations-some filmed professionally, others raw and real on a phone camera-founder Lisa C. Williams and her team brought visibility to emotional wellness in spaces that are often overlooked. From athletes to barbers to first responders, CAREGDImage: https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72×72/2122.png showed up where mental health often gets buried under performance, pressure, and silence.

“We didn’t always have perfect lighting or a full camera crew-and we didn’t need it,” said Lisa C. Williams, founder of CAREGDImage: https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72×72/2122.png. “Sometimes, it was just me, a couple of young men, and a mic-asking real questions that don’t get asked enough. This month was about presence, not perfection.”

Video: https://www.youtube.com/embed/3wfzACb3AIU?rel=0&modestbranding=0&rel=0&showinfo=1&controls=1&autohide=2&showinfo=0?ecver=2

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/embed/3wfzACb3AIU

Where CAREGDImage: https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72×72/2122.png Checked In

B.E.S.T. Basketball Program (Building Effective Solutions Together) – Stockbridge, GAAthletes reflected and recharged in nature-proving that rest is performance, too.Coach David McRae | bestprogram.me [https://bestprogram.me/]

BallinIsMoney AAU Basketball – Atlanta, GA High school boys opened up in interviews while rocking merch that reminded them: Me 1st. Then Sports. Coach Avery McGinnis | @ballinismoney_hoops [https://www.instagram.com/ballinismoney_hoops]

Barbershop Pop-Up – Atlanta, GAWe checked in on culture shapers for National Barber Mental Health Month-because barbers are always checking on everybody else.Ike Thomas & Tez Angelo | @tez.angelo [https://www.instagram.com/tez.angelo]

Centric Barber Lounge – Union City, GADre Dennis, Owner | @chopgod_ [https://www.instagram.com/chopgod_] | @centricbarberlounge

Ballislife All-American Games – Long Beach, CAAt Long Beach City College’s Hall of Champions, CAREGDImage: https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72×72/2122.png paused the hype to spotlight headspace and emotional wellness. Matt Rodriguez, CEO | @ballislife

Athlete Wellness Fair – Westlake Village, CAWe tapped in with LA Rams Sports Psychologist Dr. Carrie Hastings and Monica Wurst, a Yoga x Mindset Coach for elite athletes. Dr. Carrie Hastings | @sportpsychbydrh @monica.wurst

Firefighter Tribute at Station 28 – Porter Ranch, CA CAREGDImage: https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72×72/2122.png closed the month by honoring LA firefighters who battled the 2025 wildfires-true heroes carrying invisible emotional weight. In partnership with @mayweatherfitporterranchca

Interviews & Collaborators

* Devean Walker – LA Valley College Men’s Basketball | @theyyluvdev
* Roberto Bell – Barber | @berto._.bell
* Phillip Johnson – Founder, Black Men Need Hugs | @blkmenneedhugs
* Lisa C. Williams – Founder, CAREGDImage: https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72×72/2122.png

Videography Credits

Select interviews and footage were captured by an incredible team of visual storytellers who brought this movement to life:

* Hassan Wells | @hassanhaze
* Bernard “Nate” Brisbane | @natesoul
* Dez Brown | @dezzy.world

We thank them for amplifying our message through powerful, authentic visuals.

ABOUT CAREGDImage: https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72×72/2122.png

CAREGDImage: https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72×72/2122.png (Compassion, Awareness, Resilience & Emotional Grounding Delivered) is a culture-forward wellness movement making emotional check-ins visible, normal, and necessary. We bring mental health awareness to the frontlines-whether in locker rooms, lunchrooms, barbershops, gyms, or battlegrounds. If you show up for others, we show up for you.

Signature Campaigns:

Checking In – Are You Good?Image: https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72×72/2122.png A national visibility campaign rooted in community, making honest mental health convos normal-where people already are.

Me 1st Then SportsImage: https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72×72/2122.png A bold initiative flipping the focus from performance to personhood across the entire sports ecosystem.

You Matter MoreImage: https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72×72/2122.png A merch-driven affirmation campaign reminding people they are more than what they produce . This is care for the ones who rarely get it.

“Mental health is not just about therapy rooms and hotlines,” Williams added. “It’s about showing up where people already are and reminding them they’re not alone. That’s CAREGDImage: https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72×72/2122.png in motion.”

#CheckingInCampaign #WeCheckInLoud #Me1stThenSports #YouMatterMore
Media Contact
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Email: Send Email [http://www.universalpressrelease.com/?pr=caregd-hits-the-streets-for-mental-health-month-real-conversations-real-checkins-and-real-care]
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Website: https://caregd.com

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“It’s O.K. to not be O.K.,” Naomi Osaka famously wrote in 2021. That year, Osaka courageously declared to the world that she would be stepping away from tennis to take care of her mental health. She shared that after winning her first Grand Slam in 2018, she suffered from anxiety and depression.

Osaka’s decision to withdraw from the 2021 French Open and temporarily step away from tennis to focus on her mental health left many puzzled at the time. However, many also lauded her for taking the brave decision despite the stigma surrounding mental health issues.

According to Ryan Clark, her choice to prioritize her well-being over competition helped ignite a broader, much-needed conversation about the intense pressures athletes face and the significance of mental health and self-care in professional sports.

“I think Naomi Osaka is a very necessary human. As an athlete. Unfortunately, there are these people who go through these things publicly that allow the entire sports world to learn, and she has just been chosen to be that one. What she did at the French Open years ago, stepping away and saying, ‘I gotta focus on myself.’ That was groundbreaking.”

Lauding her for her openness in the face of personal struggles, Clark added:

“And then to explain why she did it. You know that by choosing to be open about it, there’s going to be criticism, there’s going to be disappointment, even in explaining it, there’s going to be criticism.”

Adding to her struggles, Naomi also underwent postpartum complications due to her “traumatic” birth experience. Osaka welcomed her daughter, Shai, in July 2023, marking a deeply meaningful chapter in her life.

Naomi Osaka’s struggles continue

She described motherhood as “so fulfilling,” but also candidly acknowledged the challenges of juggling her return to professional tennis with the demands of being a new mom. Osaka admitted the transition was “tough,” underscoring the critical role of a strong support system, and noting that raising a child truly “takes a village.” Once she returned to the court, she admitted, “I don’t feel like I’m in my body.”

“And then she had a baby. And I think for female athletes, when you give birth to a child, it’s so much different than it is for us… I think it’s super cool of her to let us see it because so many people hide it,” Clark said on the Pivot podcast.

The former world No. 1 continues to navigate the emotional and physical challenges of her return to tennis. In May, she was visibly emotional during her media interview after Osaka fell in the first round of the French Open to Spain’s Paula Badosa. Despite a promising start, Osaka’s performance unraveled with 54 unforced errors and five double faults, hindered further by blisters on her hands caused by the clay surface.

Last week, the Japanese player suffered a tough 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 loss to Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova at Wimbledon. It marked yet another early exit for Osaka, who hasn’t advanced past the third round of a Grand Slam since winning her last major title at the Australian Open in January 2021.

After her latest Wimbledon loss, Osaka was candid about her frustration: “Yes, [I feel closer to a deep run], but honestly, right now I’m just really upset. I’m just going to be a negative human being today. I’m so sorry. I have nothing positive to say about myself, which is something I’m working on.”