Simone Biles was drawn to tears while admitting she’s “still scared to do gymnastics” after experiencing “the twisties” at the Tokyo Olympics.
“Yeah, I don’t twist,” Biles said during an emotional interview on the “Today” show Thursday. “But everything else just weighs so heavy and I watch the girls do it and it’s not the same.”
Instead, Biles performs her double layout half-outs while on her Gold Over America Tour [GOAT], which kicked off after her return home from the Summer Games.
“The twisting, once I got back will come back, but I’m still scared to do gymnastics,” Biles said.
Twisties in gymnastics are a mental block, where they lose control of their body while twisting in the air. It could result in serious injury.
Biles dealt with twisties in Tokyo amid mental health struggles, and withdrew from the individual all-around competition. She also worked through the twisties leading up to to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, and prior to the 2019 season.
When asked if it’s “weird” to experience the twisties after years of performing twisting moves and routines, Biles became emotional.
“Yeah, 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. It’s hard,” she said, before apologizing for tearing up.
Biles then referred to the sexual abuse she and other gymnastics suffered for years under convicted former USA gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar.
“I don’t think people understand the magnitude if what I go through but for so many years to go through everything that I’ve gone through, put on a front, I’m proud of myself,” Biles said.
“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, but we go through our own things.”
Last month, Biles broke down in tears at a U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee hearing while speaking about the abuse by Nassar.