Decorated gymnast Simone Biles shared her thoughts on withdrawing from the team final at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after experiencing the “twisties.” In an episode of the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, Biles revealed that she was worried that the world would hate her for stepping away from the competition due to the twisties. She described the twisties as a condition where a gymnast cannot comprehend what their body is trying to do, leading to an inability to execute moves. Biles feared that she would face heavy criticism from her home country, and even thought she might be banned from America for not performing to gold medal standards.
During the team event, Biles was replaced by Jordan Chiles and the U.S. team won silver. Biles later won a bronze medal in the balance beam before taking a break from gymnastics. She explained the experience of the twisties by comparing them to the “yips” in baseball or suddenly forgetting how to drive a car. The disconnect between the mind and body can be overwhelming for athletes who have been training for years, making them feel like they’ve lost control.
Biles expressed how she reached a breaking point with the twisties and made the difficult decision to stop competing. Despite her challenges, Biles has returned to excellence in gymnastics. In October, she won her 33rd medal at world championships and Olympics, tying Vitaly Scherbo for the most medals by any gymnast. Biles is now preparing for the 2024 Paris Olympics where she will be aiming for more success.