Simone Biles had a moment where she felt overwhelmed and suffered from “the twisties” during the Tokyo Olympics women’s team event. She decided to prioritize her mental health and withdrew from the competition, feeling like the world would hate her for it.
In an interview with the Call Her Daddy podcast, Biles mentioned her initial fear of backlash and concerns about being banned from America if she did not win gold. Despite this fear, she came back to win bronze in the balance beam but took a break from gymnastics to focus on her well-being.
Returning to the sport last year, Biles became the most decorated gymnast in history with 33 overall medals in the Olympics and world championships. Despite her success, she experienced “the twisties,” which caused a disconnect between her body and mind and affected her performance.
Biles discussed her struggles with “the twisties,” describing it as a feeling similar to the yips in golf or baseball. In gymnastics, it can be dangerous because it can cause an athlete to lose control during a move, leading to potentially harmful landings. She hopes to overcome this challenge and continue her successful career, aiming to compete at the Paris Olympics later this year.