Tokyo Olympics 2021: Simone Biles ‘twisties’ condition explained

The world was shocked when US gymnast Simone Biles withdrew from all but one of her Olympic events. She put it down to the terrifying phenomenon known as ‘the twisties’. This is what it means.

You’re flying through the air at almost 25kmh. You’re up so high you could slam dunk a basketball. And you have no idea where the ground is, or how you’re going to land.

This is the terrifying phenomenon known as “the twisties’’ and it’s what took US gymnastics superstar Simone Biles out of the Olympics.

Much has been said and written about Biles deciding to step aside after messing up her first vault in the Olympics. Many had been expecting the 24-year-old athlete, the world’s greatest gymnast, to make a clean sweep of six golds at Tokyo.

When Biles said she needed to take some time to work on her mental health, people assumed she was struggling with the pressure of expectation; that the weight of her difficult childhood was bringing her down; that she was adrift without the support of her adoptive parents; broken by the sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of predatory team doctor Larry Nassar.

And maybe all those things did contribute to her decision to step away for a time from the sport that she has dominated completely for more than five years.

But Biles, a 142cm athlete who routinely performs tricks that no other female has ever emulated, stepped away because she was getting so lost and disorientated in the air she feared she would seriously hurt herself.

In a question and answer session on her Instagram page, Biles talked about the twisties – a well-known and feared problem for gymnasts, and virtually unknown to the rest of the world.

Simone Biles shocked the world when she withdrew from most of her events. Picture: Getty Images

She explained what happened before that first vault in the teams’ event, where she pulled out after winding back her complicated dismount and landing awkwardly on what should have been one of her strongest apparatus.

“I warmed up in the back gym ok-ish. I was fighting demons but I did it. Petrified too,’’ she said.

Her fears were confirmed when she got lost mid-way through the vault, alerting officials shortly afterwards that she was pulling out of the teams’ medal event.

Biles said she didn’t quit just because she’d had a bad jump.

“I’ve had plenty of bad performances throughout my career and finished the competition.

“I simply got so lost my safety was at risk as well as a team medal.’’

The US team went on to win silver – one of two medals Biles took home from Tokyo to add to her four gold and one bronze from Rio.

The greatest Olympic gymnast of all time, Simone Biles was expected to add multiple gold medals to her tally in Tokyo. Picture: Getty Images

She posted – and later deleted – several videos showing her messing up her vault practise, apparently becoming disoriented during a series of complicated flips.

“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,’’ she wrote about her first and only competitive vault in Tokyo.

“Thankfully I landed safe enough but I also don’t think some of you realise I was supposed to do a 2 ½ and I only completed 1 ½ twists before it looks like I got shot out of the air.”

Biles revealed this wasn’t the first time she’d experienced “the twisties.’’

“They’re not fun to deal with. It’s honestly petrifying trying to do a skill but not having your mind and body in sync.’’

She later tried to explain how it felt to get the twisties mid-air.

“(You) literally cannot tell up from down. It’s the craziest feeling ever,’’ she said.

She told NBC that on-lookers didn’t fully understand how badly wrong the vault had gone, because she had somehow managed to stay on her feet.

Simone Biles landed bronze after deciding to compete in the last event of her gymnastics program. Picture: Getty Images

“I had no idea what I was about the land on: my head, my face, my legs, my arm. I had no idea where I was,’’ she said.

“I was really afraid I was going hurt myself.’’

Biles is a true global superstar, the only athlete at the Tokyo Games with her own emoji, who wears a diamante goat on her leotard when representing her home gym, in a tacit acknowledgement of her status as the Greatest of All Time.

From a difficult beginning with time spent in foster care while her mother battled drug addiction, Biles was adopted by her grandparents, who she now calls her parents, and identified herself as one of hundreds of victim preyed upon by Nassar, who sexually abused hundreds of girls and young women during his 20 years as the USA gymnastics team doctor.

Her global appeal was evident when she took to the floor of the Ariake Gymnastics Centre in Tokyo for what is likely her last Olympic appearance, with the world’s media focused on her, many TV channels broadcasting her performance live, and delegates from all countries in the arena giving her a standing ovation.

Simone Biles received widespread praise and support for her decision to put her mental health first. Picture: AFP

She decided to compete in the balance beam because she knew she wouldn’t get hurt as badly if she fell. She won bronze, with two Chinese teenagers taking gold and silver.

Biles explained her feelings afterwards on her Instagram page, telling her 6.7 million followers that this was “Not at all how I imagined or dreamed my second olympics would go but blessed to represent the usa.

“I’ll forever cherish this unique olympic experience. thanks everyone for the endless love and support. I’m truly grateful - leaving Tokyo with 2 more Olympic medals to add to my collection isn’t too shabby!’’

NBC asked the question on everyone’s lips – was that Biles’ last Olympic appearance?

“Keeping the door open,’’ she replied.

Perhaps Paris 2024 is an option after all.