Simone Biles opened up about her fears following her mental health battle during the Tokyo gymnastics in 2020.
The gymnast got emotional in an interview with Hoda Kotb, explaining why she is “scared to do gymnastics after suffering “the twisties.”
This unfortunate incident made Biles abstain from the Summer Olympics events in Tokyo.
Getting Candid About Her Battles
On Thursday, Biles tried not to cry as she spoke to TODAY about her current struggles with her gymnastics routine after suffering “the twisties.”
The most decorated gymnast of all time has returned to headline the Gold Over America Tour with other stars.
Biles told the outlet the show would not feature any of her mid-air twists, as she only does her signature exercise on the floor.
The World Championship winner said her inability to perform something she has done forever due to what she suffered was “really crazy” because she loved the sport so much. The emotional star said,
“for so many years to go through everything that I’ve gone through having a front, I’m proud of myself.”
Biles attributed her “twisties” disorientation to mental health issues, which occurred while she was performing in the air.
The 24-year-old’s struggles have continued past the summer Olympics, and she shared she is still scared to do gymnastics.
Biles told TODAY that she is teaming up with the mental health and telemedicine app Cerebral, as its chief impactor officer, to help others battling mental health issues.
The star feared backlash after her Tokyo incident but received a swarm of support from the public for putting her mental health first.
The gymnast told the interviewers she would not change anything that happened for the world because she believes everything happens for a reason.
Speaking On Her Abuse
In September, The Blast reported that Biles told New York Magazine she wanted to quit before the Tokyo Olympics, but it would mean letting Larry Nassar win.
The gymnast said her abuse by Nassar has haunted her throughout her life, and she still suffers breakdowns that impacted her mental state before the Tokyo Olympics.
Biles said, regardless, she would not let Nassar take something she worked for since age 6, adding, “I wasn’t going to let him take that joy away from me.”
Putting Herself First!
The Blast reported that, on October 15, Biles held an Instagram Story Q&A session where she was asked which Olympic moment marked her the most during her award-winning career.
The four-time Olympic gold medalist said it was when she dared to do something her 16-year-old self would never attempt: treasuring her mind and body after her “twisties” incident.
On September 4, Biles took to her Instagram to tell critics she was not a “quitter,” and one bad event did not erase her stellar track record or define her status as an athlete.
