Simone Biles’ former coach, Cécile Canqueteau-Landi, has reflected on the legendary gymnast’s withdrawal during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics due to a mental block known as “twisties.” Biles was unable to compete in several events as a result.
Twisties is known as a mental block in gymnastics, where an athlete loses their sense of control and is unable to determine where they’ll land while mid-air. It tends to cause a disconnect between mind and body, and has impacted even the best gymnasts in the world over the years.
Simone Biles’ Former Coach on Insecurities Faced By the Gymnast
During her appearance on “The Line with Dr Kristen Holmes“, Canqueteau-Landi recalled a story from after Biles’ withdrawal at the 2020 Olympic Games. She spoke about how several athletes thanked Biles for raising awareness about mental health issues.
“I remember when she had that episode and we went to visit the Olympic village for one day to go shopping, and she was just, ‘I don’t know if I want to go. People are going to judge me’. She had read so much stuff on the internet… It was so much hate speech online for her,” Canqueteau-Landi said.
“We went to the village and we started walking, and athletes recognized her, and a couple [of them] started coming and saying thank you [for opening speaking up for mental health].”
“We were in the line at the shopping and we both started crying, like ‘oh my god, this is surreal’. I knew the respect she had of athletes but to hear them come and be like, ‘thank you’, she felt so much better.”
Biles’ Former Coach on Gymnast’s 2024 Paris Olympics Comeback
Simone Biles returned to the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024 and proved once again that she is one of the greatest gymnasts of all time. She won gold medals in the team, all-around, and vault events, as well as a silver in the balance beam. This took her Olympic tally to seven gold medals, as well as two silver and two bronze.
Cécile Canqueteau-Landi reflected on Biles’ comeback at the Paris Olympics, and also shared her future wishes for the four-time Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year.
“Then coming back in 2024 to show everyone, ‘look I’m back and can still win gold medals and be happy’. I knew moving forward she would be happy with whatever she decided to do after 2024. She would just move on in life, she would feel fulfilled and happy. And that’s all I wanted for her,” she said on the same podcast.
Biles has not competed since the 2024 Paris Olympics and is currently taking a break from gymnastics. It remains to be seen what the future holds for her, and it will be interesting to see if she decides to compete in the 2028 LA Olympics.