PARIS, France — Commentators during the 2024 Paris Olympics women's team gymnastics finals talked about Simone Biles' case of the "twisties" in 2020, hoping that it wouldn't affect her during her team finals performance.
Biles withdrew from the vault and uneven bars apparatus finals in the 2020 Tokyo games after revealing a scare she had on the vaults — the "twisties."
Officials say experiencing it is "terrifying."
What are the twisties?
The twisties are a dangerous phenomenon that gymnasts experience that could result in a serious injury, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
It is “a mental block that creates a dangerous disconnect between mind and body while gymnasts are airborne,” the Cleveland Clinic said.
During the 2020 Olympics, Biles was supposed to complete two-and-a-half twists but only did one-and-a-half with an unsteady landing, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported. She said she suffered a case of the twisties and lost a sense of where her body was in the air.
“I also have no idea how I landed on my feet on that vault because if you look at the pictures and my eyes, you can see how confused I am as to where I am in the air,” Biles said after withdrawing from the finals.
The women's gymnastics all-around final will take place at 12:15 p.m. Eastern on Thursday, Aug. 1.
