Don’t get it Twisted: Why Simone Remains Right

As you may have already heard, arguably the greatest gymnast of all time, Simone Biles has completely opted out of her Olympic showing after she opted out of the all-around final, as well as the vault and uneven bars finals. She withdrew from the team last Tuesday, resulting in the US team receiving a silver medal without their best athlete.

Simone Biles was physically shaken after one of her routines claims she has “Twisties” (via W. Lee/NY Times)

Biles later told the media she had experienced "a little bit of the twisties" and no longer trusted her ability to compete. In a series of posts to her Instagram account on Friday, Biles explained she was still experiencing the phenomenon, in which gymnasts feel like they get lost in the air, and said her "mind and body are simply not in sync."

With this said, it is clear that there are two sides to the argument.

One might challenge Biles in her decision-making when comparing her to others who claim to be “the GOAT” otherwise known as the greatest of all time. She has been forthcoming with the identification of herself, even going as far as bejeweling an actual goat on her leotard. Therefore, naysayers may compare her to others who are synonymous with this colloquialism as well.

For example, one might think that Tom Brady opting out of the fourth quarter during the Super Bowl because of pressure may be similar to what Biles is pulling.

Even so, other competitive athletes have sided with this notion.

Biles has a “Goat” on her leotard. (via Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

Former UFC bantamweight and flyweight champion Henry Cejudo is the latest to criticize the gymnast as he is a former gold medalist.

He believes Simone Biles pulling out of the competition requires some “tough love”. His “tough love” relates to Biles’ GOAT talk, claiming that there is a spotlight that must be accounted for when you own that identity. 

Cejudo knows a thing or two about performing under pressure on the world’s biggest stage as he was a competitor in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. With this in mind, he knows what attention ensues within the tense air of competition: "People say the media created her and you know they put upon this pressure. Not really. They only give you a platform and limelight. It’s up to you to believe it and to accept it. If you start to think you’re the GOAT and the greatest of all time, then that’s on you," he said.

Henry Cejudo speaks out about the Biles decision. (via Toshifumi Kitamura/Getty Images)

Biles’ situation is way beyond being the GOAT of anything, however, as she is using her spotlight now she sheds light on the more important topic at hand: mental health. It is the most lethal injury to any athlete, yet one that inflicts the least physical pain.

And Biles’ “twisties” are seen in multiple forms throughout the world of sports. 

For example, the “yips” another form of “twisties” were notorious for plaguing the career of multiple MLB players, specifically Daniel Bard of the Colorado Rockies. At one point in his career the most unhittable pitcher in the league, only then losing his confidence to the yips and having to step away from the mound for 7 years. Thankfully for his benefit, he recently returned at full capacity. 

Bard, pitcher for the Rockies experienced his version of “Twisties” that forced him off the mound for 7 years. (via Colorado Rockies)

Another reason to side with Biles is the risk of potential injury. Twisties can put her in harm's way more than ever, as she has no bearing on where she is in mid-air or how she will land. Sure you can argue that this is skill-based and she should’ve let someone who wasn’t experiencing this dilemma take her place. However, I’m sure she would not have heard the end of that decision either. 

It is important to understand how pivotal of a decision this is for Biles personally and theoretically within the new approach to mental health in sports. The most decorated athletes and all of the general public have made note of what it means for even the greatest to not be in a good place mentally. Sometimes you have to admit that they are regular people after all. Even if you refuse to do so, it puts into perspective how brutal a time Biles must be going through, something so insurmountable that even the “GOAT” can’t even get around. The outpouring of support for Biles has been huge, and it will continue to remain not just for her, but for anyone else who steps up about their mental health in the future.