Former Gymnasts Explain What Are The ‘Twisties’ That Made Simone Biles Withdraw In A Way Non-Athletes Can Understand

Since Simone Biles quit the team final at the Tokyo Olympics after a relatively simple vault, everyone has been asking the same question: “Why?”

“I had no idea where I was in the air,” Biles explained her decision. “You have to be there 100% or 120% because if you’re not, you could get hurt.”

Former gymnasts immediately recognized what she said between the lines and have taken to social media to break down a condition known as “the twisties.”

On the surface level, the twisties is a mental state where your muscle memory shuts down in the air mid-twist. It can happen to any gymnast at any time, and is even more likely under pressure.

A mental block doesn’t seem like something that could happen to the arguably best gymnast of all time, someone who routinely performs incredibly well on the biggest stages. But brains are tricky.

Image credits: wikimedia

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Biles has been very thankful for all the support she has received

Image credits: Simone_Biles

And athletes did one heck of a job explaining the situation

Image credits: TheBatMarino

Image credits: Gymtertainment

I was 14 y/o w/ a tibial stress fracture, left alone w/ no cervical spine exam after this fall. I competed in the Olympic floor final minutes later. @Simone_Biles decision demonstrates that we have a say in our own health—“a say” I NEVER felt I had as an Olympian. pic.twitter.com/LVdghdAh1g

— Dominique Moceanu (@Dmoceanu) July 28, 2021