
Five-time Olympic gold medalist Nadia Comaneci says she can relate to the high pressure of the Olympics that Simone Biles spoke about upon withdrawing from the team finals event.
"I think that the more medals you have when you go back, the heavier the backpack is," she told CNN.
Comaneci says it was easier the first time she competed
"I was young and I didn't doubt myself. And I just went for it and I didn't have too many ifs," she said.
But four years later, she went back as the Olympic champion and it was a different story.
"You kind of have to be prepared that you are going to be hit from all directions on everything that you do," the Romanian former gymnast said.
"That is a lot of pressure because you want to do your best. But I think it's important to remind yourself that you want to do the best that you can for yourself. And not the best for everyone else [who] expects you to do something that it's more than you can deliver. So, you have to be sure that you keep those pieces separate," she added.
Biles' decision to withdraw from the team was "the right thing" to do for herself and for the US team as well, two-time Olympic gold medalist Bart Conner said.
"It's scary when you are flying through the air and you have no idea where you are," he added.
Referring to Biles speaking out as a survivor of abuse by former US team doctor Larry Nassar, Comaneci said, "it's really hard to be everywhere and to do everything."
"Everything that she does is so unbelievably difficult. Then to be able to juggle five other things during the day, it's really complicated and it's a lot of pressure," she said.
"I think that she will just be continually a role model for all the generations thinking of doing gymnastics right now," Comaneci added.