BILES CUT DOWN BY ‘TWISTIES’
YOU’RE flying through the air at almost 25km/h. You’re up so high you could slam dunk a basketball, and you have no idea where the ground is, or how you’re going to land. This is the terrifying phenomenon known as “the twisties’’ and it’s what took USA gymnastics star Simone Biles out of the Olympics. Much has been said and written about Biles deciding to step aside after messing up her first vault in the Olympics. Many had been expecting the 24-year-old athlete, the world’s greatest gymnast, to make a clean sweep of six golds at Tokyo. When Biles said she needed to take some time to work on her mental health, people assumed she was struggling with the pressure of expectation; that the weight of her difficult childhood was bringing her down; that she was adrift without the support of her adoptive parents; broken by the sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of team doctor Larry Nassar. But Biles, a 142cm-tall athlete who performs tricks no other female has ever emulated, stepped away because she was getting so lost and disorientated in the air she feared she’d seriously hurt herself. On her Instagram page, Biles talked about the twisties – a well-known and feared problem for gymnasts. “I warmed up in the back gym OK-ish. I was fighting demons but I did it. Petrified too,’’ she posted.
Her fears were confirmed when she got lost midway through the vault, alerting officials shortly afterwards that she was pulling out of the teams’ medal event.
Biles said she didn’t quit just because she’d had a bad jump.
“I’ve had plenty of bad performances in my career and finished the competition. I simply got so lost my safety was at risk as well as a team medal. I was really afraid I was going hurt myself.’’
The USA team went on to win silver – one of two medals Biles took home from Tokyo to add to her four gold and one bronze from Rio.
From a difficult beginning with time spent in foster care while her mother battled drug addiction, Biles was adopted by her grandparents, who she now calls her parents, and identified herself as one of hundreds of victims preyed upon by Nassar, who sexually abused girls and young women during his 20 years as the USA gymnastics team doctor.
Biles’ global appeal was evident when she took to the floor in Tokyo with the world’s media focused on her, many TV channels broadcasting her performance live, and delegates from all countries giving her a standing ovation.
She decided to compete in the balance beam because she knew she wouldn’t get hurt as badly if she fell. She won bronze, with two Chinese teenagers taking gold and silver.
“Not at all how I imagined or dreamed my second Olympics would go but blessed to represent the USA. I’ll forever cherish this unique Olympic experience. Thanks everyone for the endless love and support. I’m truly grateful – leaving Tokyo with two more Olympic medals to add to my collection isn’t too shabby,” she posted.
Was that Biles’ last Olympic appearance?
“Keeping the door open,’’ she replied. Perhaps Paris 2024 is an option after all.