Simone Biles’ widely publicized battle with the “twisties” at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics wasn’t her first encounter with the dangerous phenomenon. According to revelations from her former coach Aimee Boorman in a new book, Biles initially experienced this disorienting condition back in 2015, nearly six years before Tokyo. This surprising disclosure sheds new light on the resilience that helped Biles become the most decorated gymnast in history.
Early Twisties Battle Revealed by Former Coach
“Simone couldn’t twist — on basically anything,” writes Boorman in her new book “The Balance: My Years Coaching Simone Biles.” The coach, who trained Biles from age 7 until the 2016 Rio Olympics, describes how the gymnast struggled with aerial awareness months before her first Olympic appearance.
During this previously undisclosed episode, Biles “would physically stop herself from twisting during her routines because she was afraid of getting lost in the air,” Boorman reveals. Unlike her later experience in Tokyo, Biles never crashed during this early bout with the twisties. Instead, she would stop herself before attempting any twisting elements.
Mental Health Journey Behind Olympic Success
Biles overcame her first encounter with the twisties through therapy and family support. She managed to resume her twisting skills just in time for the 2016 Olympic Trials and went on to dominate at the Rio Games.
“Thankfully the twisties had passed without injury,” Boorman writes in her book. “And in the process, we demonstrated that an elite gymnast can avoid training elements for weeks without losing their skills.” This triumph over adversity laid the groundwork for her incredible Olympic debut, where she captured four gold medals and established herself as a gymnastics superstar.
Tokyo Struggles Brought Mental Health to Forefront
The twisties resurfaced dramatically at the delayed Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Biles’ current coach, Laurent Landi, noted he sensed something was wrong after seeing her struggle with a warmup landing.
“I look at her face, and she pretends, ‘I’m fine, I’m fine,'” Landi recalled in the Netflix documentary “Simone Biles Rising.” Biles later described the moment in stark terms: “To me it felt silent, almost like death. And if I could have ran out of that stadium, I would have.” Her decision to withdraw from several events sparked global conversations about athlete mental health.
The Dangerous Reality of Twisties in Elite Gymnastics
The “twisties” represent a potentially life-threatening condition for gymnasts, particularly those performing the high-flying, complex skills that define Biles’ routines. When gymnasts lose spatial awareness mid-air, catastrophic injuries can result.
Biles herself articulated the frightening nature of this phenomenon. “Having these mental blocks in the gym recently has not been fun, it’s been scary,” she admitted. The revelation that she conquered this condition twice in her career highlights both the recurring nature of mental blocks in gymnastics and the extraordinary psychological strength required to overcome them.
Triumphant Comeback Cements Historic Legacy
After stepping away from international competition for two years following Tokyo, Biles made a spectacular return at the Paris Games in 2024. She captured four medals, including three gold, further cementing her status as the greatest gymnast of all time.
This comeback appears even more remarkable given the now-revealed pattern of mental challenges she has faced throughout her career. By overcoming the twisties multiple times across different Olympic cycles, Biles has demonstrated unprecedented mental resilience alongside her physical prowess. Her ability to confront and conquer these invisible obstacles reinforces her legendary status in sports history.
