The infamous Battle of Simone Biles with the `Twisties ” at Tokyo Games in Cassiers de Tokyo, is not his first experience with the potentially dangerous mental block, according to a new book by her long -standing coach.
The most decorated athlete in the history of sport, the Olympic Dreams of Biles were almost destroyed before the Rio Olympic Games in 2016 when she started to fight the mid-air phenomenon that leaves the gymnasts disoriented at precarious moments. As the coach Aimee Boorman explained in “The Balance: My Years Coaching Simone Biles”, the problem occurred six months before the start of the Olympic Games.
“ Yes, before Simone introduced the world to twists in 2021, she had known this phenomenon of proprioception in January 2016 ”, wrote Boorman, quoted by ESPN.
“When this happens to a gymnast that returns more than ten feet in the air and lose awareness of the body in space and time – not knowing if they will land on the back, feet or head – it is much more dangerous (than the ‘yips” in baseball or golf).”
When the “twists” would hit the biles “, would physically stop twist during her routines because she was afraid of getting lost in the air.
“Simone would never crash; She would stop just before trying a torsion, “added Boorman.
Simone Biles talks with her coach Aimée Boorman during warm -up before SR. Women’s 2016 Secret US Classic at the XL Center on June 4, 2016 in Hartford, Connecticut
Simone Biles with the Laureus World Sportswoman Prize of the year attended the Winners’ Marche during the Laureus World Sport Awards 2025 winners in Palacio de Cibeles
Boorman says that she resisted the desire to put pressure on biles and rather adopted a patient approach with someone who already had a growing collection of trophies.
“She was already the consecutive world champion,” she wrote. “Simone knew how to twist.
With the help of his family, his therapist and Boorman, Bileman, Biles finally solved the problem to win the first four Olympic gold medals in his career.
“Simone needed time, support and comfort that I believed in her,” wrote Boorman.
Biles, who had not revealed his 2016 battle with the “Twisties”, wrote the attacker to the Boorman book.
“The Aimee coach and I have a special link,” wrote Biles. “She has always done what was best for her athletes personally, even if someone told her that it might not work. … the coach loves understands that each athlete works, treats teaching and learns differently, and she addresses this.
Co-written by Boorman and journalist Steve Cooper, “The Balance” was scheduled for Tuesday.
With seven Olympic gold medals and more than two dozen world championships, Biles is now the most decorated gymnast in the world
Biles seemed Dash, hoping that she could come back to the Olympic scene on the floor at home when Los Angeles welcomed summer games in 2028.
After a historic year which saw the gymnastics icon cement as the largest of all time with three other gold medals in Paris to add to its Olympic transport, Biles was appointed sportsman of the year in 2024 of Sport’s illustrated in January.
However, after being announced as a recipient of the honor of Si, she questioned a potential return.
“Life and death,” she said if when they were asked what it would mean to go back to the Los Angeles Olympic scene.
“Because I have done so many things, there is nothing left to do, rather than just being snub and trying again and for what?” I am at a time in my career when I am humble enough to know when to be finished.
