Simone Biles is showing peak performance at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. She will soon compete in various gymnastics events, and recently, along with her team, brought USA another gold in the Artistic Gymnastics women’s team final. However, just before the Tokyo Olympics, Biles dropped out due to health concerns. She later revealed twisties to be one of the reasons. Let us take a deeper look at what the twisties are exactly in gymnastics.
What are twisties in gymnastics?
Twisties are a phenomenon in which gymnasts lose perception of their body movements.
While the condition has not been thoroughly researched, twisties seem to be a lack of sync between the mind and body during a gymnastics routine. This can turn out to be very dangerous, especially in competitive scenarios. It could possibly cause breaking of the bones, spinal injuries, or even serious concussions that could be fatal. Simone Biles reportedly dropped out of the vault and uneven bars finals during the Tokyo Olympics as she said she had the twisties.
This phenomenon can make it difficult for a gymnast to perform the exact movements of their routine while their body stays in the air. This is a crucial moment for the gymnast to make the right move to avoid injury and land safely. During the Tokyo Olympics, Biles opened up about her experience with the twisties. As per ABC, she said, “It’s honestly petrifying trying to do a skill but not having your mind and body in sync.”
As of now, what causes the twisties is still unknown. However, the world began to understand the condition better after Biles revealed she had it during the Tokyo Olympic Games. As per ScienceDirect, the condition could likely be related to the stress, anxiety, and even depression that athletes suffer from. While a cure is not yet known, Simone Biles seems to have overcome the obstacle of the twisties that she previously faced. Her performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics is a testament to the hard work she has put into her recovery.
