By: Sammy Wang

On Saturday, August 5, 2023, 26-year-old American gymnast Simone Biles returned from her two-year break and delivered a spectacular performance in the U.S. Classic gymnastics competition at the Now Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois.

Biles competed in all four events of the competition and gained a total of 59.1 points. Gymnasts are scored on different sections from a zero to a ten; points are deducted if a gymnast makes a mistake in their performance. In different events of the competition, Biles placed first on the balance beam and floor exercise with 14.800 points and 14.900. She finished with a Yurchenko double-pike vault, a level 8 move that consists of 2 flips in a pike position where one’s legs extend straight and body folds towards the waist.

Although Biles received the qualification score to compete in the 2023 U.S. National Championships, she doesn’t think she’s ready for another Championship.

“I knew I could come back and hopefully have a shot,” Biles said. “It’s just about really taking care of my body right now. So that’s what we’re to. It’s working.”

In the 2020-2021 Olympic Games, Biles withdrew from the competition due to experiencing “the twisties.” The twisties are where gymnasts lose their spatial orientation when performing aerial moves. Gymnasts temporarily lose control of their bodies in the air because their minds and body become disconnected.

Before withdrawing, Biles stated in her Instagram that she felt “the weight of the world on [her] shoulders,” including the pressure of the Olympics. Her decision to withdraw on July 28, 2021, raised questions about athletes’ mental health.

“I say put mental health first. Because if you don’t, then you’re not going to enjoy your sport and you’re not going to succeed as much as you want to.” Biles said.

With the challenges she faced, Biles returned to the sport as a mental health advocate, encouraging athletes to prioritize their mental health before their sports.

Sources:

https://eb18600f7bb2916037f5ee8e636ce199.cdn.bubble.io/f1691954692219x424880259427273150/Simone%20Biles%20dominates%20the%20US%20Classic%20in%20return%20to%20gymnastics%20after%202-year%20break%20_%20NPR.pdf

https://olympics.com/en/athletes/simone-biles

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Simone-Biles

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simone_Biles

https://www.nj.com/olympics/2021/07/twisties-in-gymnastics-what-are-they-how-do-gymnasts-cope.html#:~:text=“The%20twisties”%20are%20a%20phenomenon,stop%20midway%20through%20their%20routine

https://stickitgirl.com/blogs/stickitgirl/how-to-handle-the-twisties-in-gymnastics#:~:text=How%20Can%20You%20Prevent%20The,the%20pressures%20you%27re%20feeling

https://olympics.com/en/video/simone-biles-world-mental-health-day-interview-support-advice