“ Panic attack...plain and simple.”
It would be pure and simple if she hadn’t been the major draw for the olympics
You can line up 10 % of athletes who have anxiety but none who quit with such timing and visibility
Let’s not do that to them. They gather what it takes to finish. It was too much for her. Very few are condemning her for that. But please don’t detract from those who did not quit when they wanted to. They get to enjoy rewards.
People watch sports in part to see what it looks like to not quit when it might get bad. Anxiety is not exclusive to sports.
Also, opting to stay and “support the team” is a terrible idea that will do nothing but be more of a distraction for the rest of the team that has the courage to finish what they started.