Simone Biles is one of the most decorated gymnasts in U.S. history, with a combined total of 30 Olympic and World Championship medals. So why did she decide to drop out of the team all-around competition?
USA Gymnastics originally had announced that Biles had a medical issue, but she has since clarified that it is a mental health problem. Biles said she had the “twisties,” which means you lose track of yourself while in the air in gymnastics terms.
To further explain, gymnasts mostly rely on muscle memory, but with the twisties, there is a disconnect between your body and mind, and you lose control mid-air. Biles had planned on performing a 2.5 twist while vaulting last Tuesday, but instead, she stalled after 1.5 twists.
“I had no idea where I was in the air,” Biles said. “I could have hurt myself.” Losing control of your body while performing high-skill high-risk tricks is a recipe for disaster. She has acknowledged that the Olympics is a high-stress situation, and that may have contributed to the sensation.
As of today, Friday, July 30th, Biles confirmed she is still experiencing the twisties and mentioned that she’s had them in the past. When asked how long it usually takes to leave, she said, “typically for me, it’s usually 2 or more weeks when I’ve had them before.” She qualified for all four individual events (floor, vault, uneven bars, balance beams), but it is unknown whether or not she will compete when they begin on August 1st.
