The partnership between elite sports and pharmaceutical giants is built on one strategy, as Eli Lilly said, “You only get one body, let's fight like hell for it.” This week, the message was personified by Simone Biles' attendance at the Eli Lilly 150th-anniversary celebration.

This intersection of sports and pharmaceuticals came to life on May 12 at Lily's headquarters in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, for the 150-year celebration of Medicine event.

Besides Biles, stealing the spotlight at the event were Lilly's other Team USA brand ambassadors for health equity campaigns, such as alpine ski racer Mikaela Shiffrin and five-time U.S. Olympic medalist bobsledder Elana Meyers Taylor.

Shiffrin publicized their meetup with Lilly by sharing a glowing selfie of the trio on X. The caption to her post read, “Always soooo great to catch up with these amazing women!! Thank you for bringing us together, @EliLillyandCo (and happy 150th bday!)."

The post quickly caught the attention of sports fans, highlighting a rare moment when elite gymnastics, alpine skiing, and bobsled came together for a meaningful cause.

To mark this milestone of 150 years, Eli Lilly, in an official media announcement, announced a community initiative that will fund 500,000 meals and provide storage units for 150 food pantries worldwide. This ambitious project is the main reason why Simone and the other two have lent their support.

By coming together, they highlighted the need to take care of your body outside the sports world. By helping Lilly launch health initiatives across the country, they are actively using their global fame to advocate for the universal importance of health and wellness.

As Biles is part of this milestone, it reminds us how she has always used her global voice to advocate, “No medal, no accolade, or exam results are more important than your mental health,” hoping that the next generation of gymnasts take this to their heart.

Simone Biles on Mental Health

A few years ago, Olympic champion Simone sparked a global conversation about mental health in sports when she stepped away from the women's team final at the Tokyo 2020.

The superstar has always raised her voice on mental health. Biles had admitted how it was a struggle to take the first step. She recalled in an interview with Olympics.com, saying, “That decision wasn’t easy.”Although that helped her in the long run by winning three gold and a silver at the Paris Games, because she took the first step and convinced herself to seek therapy sessions.

“But as soon as I see my therapist and we start talking, it’s like I’m yapping the whole time. I’m so grateful for that.” Biles told Olympics.com in an exclusive interview on mental health.

As she stepped on the stage of Eli Lilly's 150 celebration, along with fellow members, she proved her commitment towards mental wellness and proved through her voice that a nurturing mind is the foundation of a healthy body.

What do you think about Biles's venture alongside Shriffin to attend Eli Lilly 150th-anniversary celebration? Let us know in the comments.

Follow Gymnastics Digest for more

Written by

Sebi Mehta

Edited by

Souvik Roy