Simone Biles Opens Up About ‘The Twisties’ and the Mental Health Challenges That Faced in the Olympics

Simone Biles was overwhelmed during the Tokyo Olympics women’s team event and suffered from “the twisties,” a disconnect between her body and mind that affected her performance. She prioritized her mental health and withdrew from the competition, fearing backlash and concerns about being banned from America if she did not win gold.

In an interview with the Call Her Daddy podcast, Biles shared her initial fear of backlash and concerns about being banned from America if she did not win gold. Despite her success in winning bronze in the balance beam, she 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. However, she still struggles with “the twisties,” which can be dangerous in gymnastics because it can cause an athlete to lose control during a move, leading to potentially harmful landings.

Biles hopes to overcome this challenge and continue her successful career, aiming to compete at the Paris Olympics later this year. She believes that by focusing on her mental health and well-being, she can achieve great things both on and off the mat.