Leading into the Tokyo Olympics, COVID-19 was understood to be a key danger for athletes, officials and the local community. So far, efforts to control its spread at the Games seem successful, even as cases are spiking more widely in Japan.
But now it’s time to consider another health risk that’s persisted largely ignored in elite sports for decades.
Simone Biles reminded us of this hidden injury when she pulled out of the team gymnastics competition Tuesday night (she exited the individual all-around competition Wednesday). Back in May, tennis star Naomi Osaka spotlighted these hazards after withdrawing from the French Open. Dozens before them have battled with, been sidelined by and have overcome one of sport’s most prevalent but undiscussed problems.