Simone Biles ready to vault back into spotlight after Tokyo Twisties ordeal
as Simone Biles sprinted down the vault at the start of the womenâs team final at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the eyes of the world following her every step. Biles had already built an unprecedented, record-breaking career, establishing herself as the greatest gymnast ever and pushing the boundaries of gymnastics beyond what anyone could have imagined. Her combination of technique, aerial awareness and power had propelled her to unprecedented success; she hadnât been defeated in an all-around competition since 2013.
But something was wrong. Although the famed Amanar jump is one of the most difficult skills in the world, Biles has made it look easy throughout her career. This time, however, she only completed one and a half twists, a full twist short of the planned jump, before dropping into a deep squat, barely able to stay on her feet.
Shortly after her mistake, Biles withdrew from the womenâs team final, later saying she wanted to protect her mental well-being. It quickly became clear that this wasnât just a mental time-out in the middle of the Olympics. Biles was suffering from Twisties, a mental block that caused the American to lose herself in the air whenever she tried to twist. In such a dangerous sport, Biles risked seriously injuring herself if she tried to persevere.
After withdrawing from all but one final, Biles returned on the final day to take a bronze medal with a downgraded routine that did not include her usual twisting. Despite her resilience at the end of the competition, Biles left Tokyo heartbroken.
The reasons behind the mental struggles in Tokyo were varied, ranging from the nature of the Covid-19 restrictions to the general pressure on Biles, but there was another stressor. Biles was one of hundreds of gymnasts who had been sexually abused by convicted former U.S. team doctor Larry Nassar. The only active gymnast among Nassarâs survivors, she later spoke of how she couldnât shake the feeling that she was carrying an immense weight on her shoulders.
In the months following Tokyo, Biles took a break from the gym and it seemed the world had seen her off for good. Instead, Bilesâ name appeared on a list of participants for a Team USA training camp. Biles had managed to keep her return to training a secret, and she left little doubt about her intentions when she dominated her first meet back.
Ten years after winning her first world all-around title in the same arena, Biles made her global comeback at the 2023 World Championships in Antwerp, where she staged one of the most incredible comebacks in recent years. Biles led the U.S. team to gold, also winning the individual all-around, balance beam and floor titles, along with a silver medal on vault.
Her success set the record for Olympic and World Championship gymnastics: 37. Biles has now also added five eponymous skills to the code of points, each of which is among the most difficult elements ever practiced.
One of the most incredible aspects of Bilesâ comeback is how sheâs managed to keep improving. With memories of the Twisties still fresh in her mind, Biles was hesitant to perform her elaborate twisting jumps so soon after her comeback. Instead of slowly working her way back into competition with a lesser jump, Biles opted for the most difficult jump imaginable: the Yurchenko double pike. No other woman has ever come close to doing it, but in Bilesâ case, the few times sheâs failed to master the skill were because she had too much strength.
Biles was still processing the events of Tokyo last year and had only a modest amount of training under her belt. This year she returns with a lot of confidence from her success in Antwerp and with another nine months (October to July) of work. No all-around champion has made it to a third Olympic Games, but she returns to the podium with some of the best gymnastics of her career and wants to make up for the events of three years ago.