What Are the Twisties? The Dangerous Gymnastics Condition That Stopped Simone Biles
Credits Jessica Frankl
Credits Jessica Frankl
In a sport where the coordination between the body and the mind is everything, there is a dangerous condition that once shook up the gymnastics icon Simone Biles.
The winner of 11 Olympic and 30 World Championship medals had to withdraw from several individual events at the 2020 Tokyo Games, after experiencing the infamous “twisties.” And she once shared that experience.
“Literally cannot tell up from down. It’s the craziest feeling ever, not having an inch of control over your body,” she shared on Instagram in 2021. “What’s even scarier is that since I have no idea where I am in the air, I also have NO idea how I’m going to land. Or what I’m going to land on.”
Aug 7, 2016; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Simone Biles (USA) performs the balance beam during women's gymnastic qualifications in the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games at Rio Olympic Arena. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 7, 2016; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Simone Biles (USA) performs the balance beam during women's gymnastic qualifications in the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games at Rio Olympic Arena. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
It is when the body and the mind are so out of sync that the gymnast loses all control over their moves or twists, mostly in the air. Not being able to determine their current position or landing position makes it even more dangerous.
As a result, the gymnast can land incorrectly on a vital organ, leading to a life-or-death situation. And that’s why, at the Tokyo Games, Biles was quick to pull away after experiencing the twisties on the vault.
While Biles’ explanation was clear enough to understand this condition, Olympic gold medalist and Arkansas gymnastics coach Jordyn Wieber weighed in on this topic.
Jordyn Wieber on Simone Biles’ Twisties
The twisties are a notorious occurrence that almost every gymnast is aware of, and Wieber was no exception. Having faced it as a 10-year-old, she explained why Biles could’ve been in a tight spot had she not withdrawn.
“She (Biles) is doing some of the most difficult skills in the entire world,” Wieber stated. “If you’re not mentally in a great place, or have the twisties, then that can be a matter of life or death. One wrong landing, or landing on your neck, could be really, really dangerous.”
So, Biles’ withdrawal as a safety measure with the support of her coaches, per Wieber, was “a really good thing.” And taking a step back ultimately allowed her to return strongly in the 2024 Paris Games.
Can you name a similar condition other athletes experience in their respective sports? Let us know in the comments.
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Written by
Deblina Roy