“It felt like I was in jail with my own brain and body” – Simone Biles opens up on criticism after Tokyo Olympics withdrawal
Four-time Olympic champion Simone Biles recently admitted to feeling trapped by her own thoughts and body due to the criticism she faced in the aftermath of her 2020 Tokyo Olympics withdrawal to prioritize her mental health. She was considered one of the heavy favorites for multiple titles at the Tokyo Olympics, as she was already a well-established gymnast with four gold medals and a bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
But she decided not to continue at the Japanese event and took her name back from multiple events like floor exercise and all-around due to experiencing ‘twisties’. It is a kind of condition in which a gymnast’s body loses synchronization with the mind while in mid-air.
Biles only participated in the team event and balance beam apparatus at the 2020 Olympics, where she secured a silver and a bronze, respectively. In the Netflix docuseries “Simone Biles Rising,” it was uncovered how her withdrawal took a toll on her and she lost belief in herself.
But she decided not to continue at the Japanese event and took her name back from multiple events like floor exercise and all-around due to experiencing ‘twisties’. It is a kind of condition in which a gymnast’s body loses synchronization with the mind while in mid-air.
Biles only participated in the team event and balance beam apparatus at the 2020 Olympics, where she secured a silver and a bronze, respectively. In the Netflix docuseries “Simone Biles Rising,” it was uncovered how her withdrawal took a toll on her and she lost belief in herself.
Simone Biles returned to her gymnastics endeavors at the 2023 Core Hydration Classic, aka the US Classic, after a two-year hiatus. It was during the warm-up session that fans got to witness Biles showcase her skills once again before the main event.
During the actual event in Chicago in August, Biles performed as per her usual reputation and clinched the all-around title with a score of 59.100. Following this, she broke Alfred Jochim’s 90-year-old national title record two weeks later in San Jose, California, after winning the U.S. Gymnastics Championships with an all-around score of 118.450.
From then on, there has been no looking back for the Houston native; she then went on to win the 2023 World Championships in October in team, all-around, balance beam, and floor exercise. 2024 also brought her several accolades, such as the ninth national title, a Core Hydration Classic title, followed by a triumphant performance at the US Olympic Trials in June.