“Twisties” Explained: Why Simone Biles Pulled Out Of The Tokyo Olympics In 2021

Netflix’s Simone Biles Rising follows Simone Biles, the most decorated gymnast in history, and her journey after her experience with the “twisties” during the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Part 1 of the Simone Biles documentary series was released on Netflix prior to the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, which kicked off on July 26. The docuseries’ two episodes (“Write me down in history…” and “I will not be broken”) follow Biles as she gives a closer look at what exactly happened to her in Tokyo and as she prepares for her comeback at the 2024 Olympics.

Biles is inarguably the greatest American gymnast of all time, more than earning the moniker of “G.O.A.T.” She began competing in 2013 and won 10 gold medals (14 medals total) at the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships before making her Olympic debut in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. Simone Biles ultimately won four gold and two bronze medals in Rio, and five years later, she competed in her second Olympics in Tokyo. Unfortunately, Biles’ second outing was disappointing overall as she was favored to win in numerous events but withdrew from the competition after getting the “twisties.”

Simone Biles Pulled Out Of The 2020 Olympic Games Due To The “Twisties”

Biles Still Won 2 Medals In Tokyo

At the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Simone Biles participated in the all-around qualifications, helping Team USA qualify for the team final. However, Biles made many mistakes that were uncharacteristic of her during the competition. Nevertheless, she still qualified for all the individual finals (the all-around, vault, balance beam, uneven bars, and floor exercise). Biles’ struggles continued when she balked midair (she performed 1.5 twists instead of 2.5) during her vault during the team final. Afterward, she backed out of the other events, citing mental health issues. Later, Biles revealed that the “twisties” were to blame for her withdrawal.

Biles withdrew from almost all the individual finals in Tokyo, but she returned for the balance beam. After performing a scaled-down routine, Biles won the bronze medal, bringing her 2020 Olympics medal count to two (she also received a silver for the team final), proving how resilient she is. However, Biles had a long road ahead of her dealing with the fallout from the Tokyo Olympics. As revealed in Simone Biles Rising, Biles was subject to harsh online discourse regarding her decision to withdraw from the competition.

The “Twisties” & Why They’re So Dangerous For Gymnasts

The “Twisties” Can Lead To Terrible Injuries If Not Taken Seriously

The “twisties” occur when a gymnast temporarily loses awareness of their positioning while performing twisting elements in the air. When gymnasts like Simone Biles experience the “twisties,” they often feel disoriented and are unaware of where the ground is. Consequently, they can’t control their bodies or where they land, which is important for athletes performing complicated routines and is why the “twisties” are dangerous and terrifying. They could land wrong and severely injure themselves, depending on the circumstances. So, Biles backed out of the competition during the team final to protect her physical and mental health. In an Instagram post, Biles said:

“It wasn’t an easy day or my best but I got through it. I truly do feel like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders at times. I know I brush it off and make it seem like pressure doesn’t affect me but damn sometimes it’s hard hahaha! The Olympics is no joke! BUT I’m happy my family was able to be with me virtually🤍 they mean the world to me!”

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Simone Biles’ “Twisties” Issue Resulted In Important Mental Health Discussions Among Athletes

Biles Attributed Her “Twisties” To Her Mental Health

Simone Biles’ controversial 2020 Olympics decision ultimately led to a larger discussion concerning mental health among gymnasts (and athletes in general), as detailed in Simone Biles Rising on Netflix. Biles prioritized her mental health, something that not many athletes are encouraged to do, which is why her decision received so much backlash. However, Biles standing her ground and opening up about her experience with the “twisties” during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics was the first step to normalizing talking about the importance of mental health in sports.

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After Biles was open about her case of the “twisties” (which she accredited to her mental health issues), more athletes came forward with their stories. Among the sports and gymnastics community, many supported Biles as they could relate to her. Gymnasts are under a lot of pressure to perform well and succeed, especially at the Olympics. However, as Biles discusses in Netflix’s Simone Biles Rising, putting herself and her mental health first was more important than winning.

Simone Biles: Rising (2024)

4.0

After stepping away from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics due to mental health struggles, Simone Biles embarks on a transformative journey. The docuseries follows her as she overcomes past traumas, rebuilds her gymnastics skills, and prepares for a triumphant return to the Olympic stage in Paris.

Cast

Simon Biles

Release Date

July 17, 2024

Seasons

1

Source: Instagram