Simone Biles shares that she is still struggling with 'twisties'. Image Source: SELF Magazine
Simone Arianne Biles, an American artist gymnast with a total of 32 Olympic and World Championship medals, admitted on NBC's "Today" show that she is still afraid to practice gymnastics. After losing air awareness after a twisting vault during the Tokyo Olympics in late July, the gymnast withdrew from the team gymnastics competition.
In an emotional interview, Biles shared that she is still struggling with ‘twisties’ as she performs on her Gold Over America Tour. She quoted, "I don't twist (on tour). I do double lay half-outs, which is my signature move on the floor. That's never affected me. But everything else weighs so heavy, and I watch the girls do it, and it's not the same. But the twisting, once I get back, will come back. But I'm still scared to do gymnastics."
Simone Biles is currently on tour with teammates Jordan Chiles, MyKayla Skinner, Jade Carey, and Grace McCallum, and she said it's difficult to watch them (girls) all doing twists in the air just as she had done for years because now she can't do them. She also added, "I'm happy I can be a leader for the survivors and bring courage to everybody speaking up, so I'm happy to be a voice for them. But we go through our own things. It's hard."
Simone shares it's difficult to watch the girls do twists in the air just as she had done for years. Image Source: Fox News
Last month, she testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding the FBI’s handling of sexual abuse claims against former USA Gymnastics team doctor, Larry Nassar. "For so many years to go through everything that I've gone through, put on a front, I'm proud of myself, and I'm happy that I can be a leader for the survivors and bring courage to everybody speaking up, so I'm happy to be a voice for them," Biles said on Today. Larry Nassar was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison for multiple sex crimes in 2018.
Talking about her decision to take a step back from the gymnasts ‘competition in Tokyo, she said, "To do something that I've done forever and just not be able to do it because of everything I've gone through is crazy because I love this sport so much. It's hard, I'm sorry. And I don't think people understand the magnitude of what I go through." She still managed to win bronze on the balance beam in Tokyo and currently ties with Shannon Miller for the most Olympic medals won by a female American gymnast.
“Over the years, after suppressing so many emotions and putting up a front on a global stage, I think all of that came to light and my body and my mind allowed me to suppress all of that stuff for so many years, for as long as it could take. And as soon as we stepped onto the Olympic scene, it just decided it couldn't do it anymore, and it cracked, and that's what happens. And that's why taking care of your mental well-being and mental health is so important, so that something like that doesn't happen. And I'm grateful that it wasn't somebody else, and it was me, because I know I'm strong enough, and I can get back on my feet, and I'm going to get back on my feet with the right help", Simone Biles shared.
The artist gymnast said she has many techniques to help with her mental wellness, including using the mental health app Cerebral. With her step to give her mental health priority, she is now the chief impact officer with the company.
"Getting the mental health therapy that I need has been relieving for me, especially being on the road and tour. I'm happy to have such a great app to help out with that," she said. Simone Biles specifically mentioned that she needs to start her therapy sessions before going on the road. " As hard as it was to get started with that, it definitely helps", she said, adding that she also loves to take daily walks, be outside, decompress from social media, and indulge in a little retail therapy.
