Simone Biles On Quitting Olympics 2020: 'I Definitely Had The Team In My Best Interest'

Simone Biles got candid about her decision to quit the Olympics and how her team played a role in her decision.

Simone, 24, recently did an interview with her mom Nellie Biles from her home in Houston, Texas for AthletaWell following the Tokyo Olympics 2020. E! News got an exclusive look at the mother and daughter's interview where Nellie said she had "quite a few questions that I would love to share the answers to."

During their conversation, Nellie asked Simone what was going through her head when she decided to pull out from the Olympics. Simone decided to withdraw early on to focus on her mental health but returned for the balance beam final.

"I definitely had the team in my best interest, and that's why I decided to pull out," the athlete told her mom. "I didn't want to potentially lose a medal spot for them. Because the girls were more than prepared to go in and to do their job, which they did."

The gymnast said her mental health issues started even before they arrived in Japan. She attributed it to the "stress factor" that built up over time and she wasn't aware of it until it hit her.

"Even I didn't know I was going through it until it just happened," she explained. "It just sucks. Like, train five years, and it doesn't go the way you wanted. But I know that I helped a lot of people and athletes speak out about mental health and saying no. Because I knew I couldn't go out there and compete. I knew I was going to get hurt."

Although things didn't go as planned, Simone went home with a silver from the team final and a bronze from her beam performance. The "Dancing With the Stars" Season 24 contestant also shared how she prioritized her mental health after she pulled out from the tournament.

"I spoke to my coaches a lot. I had conversations with Team USA's sports psychologists. Justin Bieber reached out, and he messaged me. So did Demi Lovato," she continued.

The "Baby" crooner showed his support to Simone on Instagram. On July 28, Bieber shared a snap of Simone and said he supported her decision to withdraw from the competition.

"Nobody will ever understand the pressures you face! I know we don’t know each other but I’m so proud of the decision to withdraw," Bieber said. "It’s as simple as — what does it mean to gain the whole world but forfeit your soul. Sometimes our no’s are more powerful than our yes’s. When what you normally love starts to steal your joy it’s important we take a step back to evaluate why."

Bieber said he was proud of Simone for prioritizing her mental health. Simone commented on Bieber's post with a smiling face with a tear emoji and a brown heart emoji to show that she was touched by Beiber's gesture.

Simone's decision to quit received mixed responses. While some were supportive of her, others criticized her. Morgan Piers was among those who slammed her because, according to him, Simone quit after she made a mistake for what was supposed to be an "Amanar" vault.

"Just as when you call yourself the GOAT in sport, you can't then quit the moment things get tough or you make a mistake. Something that I'm sure Simone Biles, in her heart, must realize because she's a great champion and great champions just don't do that," he wrote in a Daily Mail report.

Simone's full interview with her mom will be available on AthletaWell on Monday.