What are the twisties? The condition that forced Simone Biles’ to withdraw from the 2020 Olympics

SIMONE Biles had to drop out of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics after suffering with the debilitating “twisties”.

But what actually are the twisties and how long has Simone Biles suffered with them?

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What are the twisties?

The twisties are a loss of orientation that can lead athletes to lose control of their own body.

It can cause them to perform extra flips and twists or even land unsafely.

According to sports psychologist Matthew Sacco PhD, the Twisties are a mental block which causes a disconnect between the body and mind.

This occurs when a gymnast is in the air.

Dr Sacco said: “The brain and body are no longer communicating efficiently, and that causes a gymnast to lose sense of where their body is in space while they’re in the air.”

Even the most accomplished gymnasts, like Simone, can come down with them.

Dr Sacco says the twisties can be triggered by “a little bit of everything and anything.”

Common factors include stress, perfectionism, doubt and fixating on a mistake.

He says that gymnasts can overcome this mental block but they may have to slow down a little bit first.

There are four tactics that Dr Sacco says can help.

He suggests slowing down a complicated twist or flip.

He adds that breaking a twist into steps helps, as that can “back things up and build confidence”.

The second tactic he describes is jumping into a foam pit as it is a “safe way to confront any fears” about hitting the ground.

This allows an athlete’s mind and body to reconnect.

Visualising a routine can help too, in order to break through mental barriers.

And, finally, relaxation techniques such as box breathing can cause the stress behind the twisties to disappear.

What happened to Simone Biles in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics?

At the 2020 Olympics, Simone came down with a case of the dreaded twisties.

Simone previously had trouble with the twisties at the 2016 Rio Olympics, as well as in 2019.

During the run up to the Tokyo Olympics, Simone suffered several mishaps while trying to qualify.

She posted on Instagram saying that she felt the “weight of the world” on her shoulders, because of the Olympic pressure.

Eventually, during the warm-ups for the first rotation of the team final, Biles performed only 1.5 twists out of an expected 2.5.

The nine-time medallist went on to repeat this at a competition, leading her to nearly have an accident.

She withdrew from the Tokyo Olympics, citing mental health reasons and beginning a 732-day layoff from the sport.

What has Simone Biles said about the 2020 Tokyo Olympics?

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Simone Biles explained that the terrifying twisties feel like being at the wheel of a car that you cannot control.

The athlete, who has won six gold medals, said: “Your mind and your body are at a disconnect.

“Your body is going to try to do something, and your mind is going to be like, ‘No, you’re not doing this’, I am my car’.”

She also likened the feeling to being “lost in the air”.

While appearing on Alex Cooper’s hit podcast Call her Daddy, the athlete said the sensation “Doesn’t feel comfortable, I have no idea where I am, but I’m twisting, praying I land on my feet.”

She described trying to push past the condition, but eventually had to admit that she needed a break.

The star athlete has shown that gymnasts can overcome the condition as she has smashed records.

Simone returned to the Olympics, at the Paris 2024 Games, where she made history by winning a second all-around gymnastics title.