Simone Biles is well-known for her gymnastics prowess. But there was a time when the gymnastics sensation appeared to have fizzled out at the Tokyo Olympics. In a recent interview, her former coach, Cecile Landi, opened up about Biles’ state of mind and why it wasn’t easy for the gymnast to recover from the ordeal.
Biles underperformed at the Tokyo Olympics. She won only a silver medal in the women’s team all-around and a bronze medal in the women’s balance beam event.
Cecile Landi Opens Up on Simone Biles’ State of Mind During Tokyo Olympics
Biles’ coach Landi recently sat for a podcast session with Dr. Kristen Holmes for her channel, ‘The Line’. The gymnast-turned-coach opened up about the criticism received by Biles and her state of mind during those tough times.
Landi revealed on “The Line” that Biles was unable to handle the turn of events. She said:
“People were mad in Tokyo, remember? I was like, ‘She’s not playing tennis.’ You know, it’s not that. Like, if she’s flipping in the air and something goes wrong, she can land on her neck and die, get paralyzed — like, so many serious things can happen. So when she looked at me in Tokyo after that vault where she got lost, she was like, ‘I don’t know where I’m at… I can’t.’ In her eyes, she looked so different.”
Biles was experiencing the “twisties” phenomenon, under which a gymnast is unable to execute a move moments before landing. Before it could take a toll on her body, Biles decided to withdraw from the women’s team all-around finals, as well as most of the events she had qualified for. Although she was initially criticized for it, Biles later earned appreciation from nearly everyone for opening up about her mental health, including legends like Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt.
Simone Biles’ Comeback Arc Post Tokyo Olympics
After the Tokyo Olympics, Biles took a break. She did not participate in any tournaments in 2022. Biles returned to action at the 2023 U.S. Classic meet, after which she represented the USA at the 2023 World Championships. Biles proved her mettle by winning four gold medals, including the team all-around title.
The gymnast marked a strong comeback at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She won four Olympic medals (including three gold medals), which made her the most decorated American gymnast of all time and the second-most decorated gymnast in the world, alongside former Czech gymnast Vera Caslavska.
