Physical injuries will always be a part of sports.

But what about mental ailments?

We really haven't given much thought to that side of things - until Simone Biles gave us reason to do so.

Biles' decision to pull out of the team portion of the Olympic gymnastics competition because she didn't feel she was mentally in sync with her physical stunts has prompted much debate.

Was it the right thing to do?

Did she quit on her team?

Was she being selfish?

Was she protecting herself from potential injury?

Was she afraid she would hurt the team if she tried to continue?

There are probably different answers to all of those questions. The question that comes out of this whole thing is when is it OK for an athlete to quit on the team?

Had Biles sprained an ankle or a wrist and decided she was unable to continue, no one would say a word. That is a physical problem, something transparent and easy to understand.

Trying to process someone's mental condition and whether that can prevent an athlete from competing is entirely different.

Sadly, we have had local athletes succumb to depression and end their lives within the past year. This is not to suggest Biles was in that frame of mind.

Yet, here this young woman was, on a stage in front of the world - a place she's been before - deciding she needed to pull out of the Games for now.

Obviously, she knew something wasn't right with herself. Rather than try to muddle through, she chose to get herself right.

In other words, take care of herself.

Mental illness is a scary thing because we cannot see it. Even the person dealing with the issue isn't sure what is going on.

At least Biles is dealing with the issue.

Critics can say she quit. They can argue that Russia won the gold medal in women's team gymnastics because Biles quit.

So what?

Yes, these are the Olympics ... as in Olympic Games. And they will live on with or without her.

These athletes are not robots. They are human beings. And this human being was concerned about her well-being.

Athletes have to be people first.

We as sports fans need to be people first, too.

We missed out on seeing Simone Biles the athlete.

If Simone Biles the person is better off for it, it's all good.

When feeling mental stress, we as humans need to have the courage to address it rather than pretend it's not there.

Thank you, Simone.

Lesson learned.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle