It hasn't been an easy year for Simone Biles. From shocking Olympic withdrawals to dealing with the public pressure that came with it, the 24-year-old's life has been under the spotlight since the 2020 Games. But she continued to show us her true bravery in opening up about her post-Tokyo struggles.
The gold medal-winning athlete sat down with the hosts of the Today show to chat about her journey after Tokyo and her current relationship with her beloved sport. And unfortunately, Simone confessed that she still felt "scared to do gymnastics" after struggling with a condition known as "the twisties." According to Biles, she felt disoriented and off-balance performing moves she's done for years. And it hasn't been easy performing on the mat during the Gold Over America tour, knowing that she can't perform the same way she has done all these years.
"I don't twist. I do double half layouts, which is my signature move on the floor that has never affected me," the G.O.A.T. athlete explained. "But everything else just weighs so heavy." And while Simone has been nothing but supportive of her fellow Olympians, it hasn't been easy feeling like she wasn't at the same level. "I watch the girls do it, and it's just not the same," she confessed. "To do something that I've done forever and just not be able to do it because of everything I've gone through is really crazy, because I love this sport so much," Simone confessed tearfully. "I don't think people understand the magnitude of what I go through."
But on the bright side, thanks to some loyal messages from fans and a commitment to mental health, Biles looked on the positive. "[I'm doing] a lot better. Getting the mental health therapy that I need has been relieving for me, especially being on the road," the empowering athlete explained. "The twisting will come back, but I'm still scared to do gymnastics."
We're sending some serious love your way, Simone! And whether it's on or off the mat, we can't wait to see what's next for this G.O.A.T. super gymnast!
Related
