In a recent episode of the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, decorated gymnast Simone Biles opened up about the mental struggles she faced during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Biles revealed that she thought the world would hate her for her decision to step back from competing after experiencing the “twisties.” The “twisties” are described as a disconnect between a gymnast’s mind and body, making it difficult to execute moves.
When Biles realized she had the “twisties,” she felt as though she would be heavily criticized by her home country, the United States. She described feeling like America hated her and feared that she would be banned from returning if she did not win gold. Despite these fears, Biles ultimately made the difficult decision to step back from competition, paving the way for her replacement, Jordan Chiles, in the team event in which the U.S. won silver.
Biles went on to win a bronze medal in the balance beam before taking a break from gymnastics. She compared the experience of the “twisties” to other athletes’ struggles, such as the “yips” in baseball or suddenly forgetting how to drive a car. Biles expressed the feeling of losing control over her body and mind, leading her to make the tough decision to stop competing in the games.
Since then, Biles has returned to excellence in gymnastics. In October, she won her 33rd medal at the world championships and Olympics, tying Vitaly Scherbo for the most by any gymnast. Looking ahead, Biles is setting her sights on
