Tokyo Olympics: Simone Biles is suffering from ‘the twisties’ – but what are they?

Reigning Olympic champion Biles says she had ‘a little bit of the twisties’ after pulling out of second event

‘It’s really scary because when you’re doing a skill like Simone does … it’s really dangerous,’ says former UCLA gymnast

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Simone Biles after competing on the vault in the women’s team final at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Photo: TNS

Published: 2:04pm, 29 Jul 2021Updated: 3:45pm, 29 Jul 2021

The words send shivers up the spine of nearly every gymnast – the twisties.

It’s the mental block that causes gymnasts, even those at the top of their game like US superstar Simone Biles, to lose control of their bodies while mid-air.

Biles, who cited mental health concerns after withdrawing from the women’s gymnastics team final and Thursday’s individual all-around final, mentioned getting “the twisties” during a vault that served as her only routine of the final team competition.

Seeing the nearly unflappable Biles falter was shocking to many, but for those who have experienced the alarming sensation of their bodies disconnecting from their minds while upside down, it also brought up bad memories.

“It’s kind of like forgetting how to twist your body in the air,” former UCLA gymnast JaNay Honest said. “It’s really scary because when you’re doing a skill like Simone does … it’s really dangerous.”

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