Simone Biles prioritizes mental health to avoid the “twisties” at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. (Photo: A. Ricardo/Shutterstock)
Simone Biles became the most decorated Olympic gymnast in U.S. history by taking time for herself and maintaining therapy sessions while competing in Paris.
“I’m in a good spot mentally and physically, and you can’t take it from me,” Biles said in an NBC Olympics interview. “So when I go out there, it’s pure joy.”
Prioritizing mental health along with her physical health helped Biles win four of her 11 medals this year after a controversial, but necessary, exit from the Tokyo Games in 2020.
During the pandemic Olympics that year, Biles had the “twisties” — a sense of disorientation when the body and mind are out of sync. She likens the situation to a car that’s out of control. The difference is that her body was the car “lost in space.” And an accident could have been severe or even fatal.
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“I say put mental health first,” Biles said during a news conference in Tokyo. “If you don’t, then you’re not going to enjoy your sport and you’re not going to succeed as much as you want to.”
“So, it’s OK sometimes to even sit out the big competitions to focus on yourself, because it shows how strong of a competitor and person you really are rather than just battle through it.”
Olympic Medals for Simone Biles in Women’s Gymnastics
Gold2024 All-Around2024 Vault2024 Team2016 All-Around2016 Floor2016 Vault2016 TeamSilver2024 Floor2020 Team
Bronze2020 Balance Beam2016 Balance Beam
