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Original poster

Simone Biles

211 replies

Cwtchycoopark · 29/07/2021 16:02

I had never seen her perform so I am currently down a YouTube rabbit hole and I am awe struck.She is phenomenally, jaw droppingly talented and you can just tell how much she loves it. She is a complete joy to watch. She has shown such courage in prioritising her mental health over what is expected from her.

OP posts:
CuriousaboutSamphire · 29/07/2021 16:16

It was clear watching her that she isn't in the right place in her head. I think her decision to just stop will be the best decision she could have made.

And yes, she's gobsmackingly good!

KittenKong · 29/07/2021 16:19

It’s a shame - it really is. She is amazing (we saw her perform in an exhibition). But it’s not my neck and those moves are dangerous. If her head isn’t 100% in the moment she could really hurt herself.

I am sure there’s nothing more she would want to do than be in the finals - so she wouldn’t have taken this decision lightly.

Lanaa · 29/07/2021 16:26

Good for her. I'm pleased she had the power to say no and prioritise herself. She owes no one a thing. More women should do this.

Look back at Kerri Strug who should never have done the vault, which ended her career. Before her there was a Russian gymnast who broke her leg, because of pressure she removed her cast too early, fell and broke her neck which made her a paraplegic for the rest of her life. It's a dangerous sport. Thankfully Simone has done what's right for her.

jollygreenpea · 29/07/2021 16:27

People should leave her be, (talking about others not you op) she has proved beyond doubt she is supremely talented. There is more to life than a sport.

choosername1234 · 29/07/2021 16:28

I could t help feeling sorry for her teammates though, her withdrawing from the team event almost certainly cost them the gold medal. No doubt at all she made the right decision for her though

terrywynne · 29/07/2021 16:34

@choosername1234

I could t help feeling sorry for her teammates though, her withdrawing from the team event almost certainly cost them the gold medal. No doubt at all she made the right decision for her though
But did she cost them the gold medal? That assumes she would have performed at the standard needed for them to get gold and that does not seem likely given what has been said about her decision. So, she could have continued, risked serious injury and they still wouldn't have got gold.

Thanks to this I have now heard of getting "the twisties". The idea that mental blocks result in you losing your sense of where you are in the air - which is when the gymnasts get serious injuries because they land in the wrong way. Apparently it is quite common and not something you can easily or safely push through.

Louiselady500 · 29/07/2021 16:34

She is incredible. The abuse she has suffered throughout her gymnastics career is shocking and horrific. The fact that she stood up so strongly for herself and did what she needed to do despite all the pressure she is under is awe-inspiring. She is an amazing role model for young people and should be supported and congratulated on so many levels. What a woman!!!

mynameiscalypso · 29/07/2021 16:34

@choosername1234

I could t help feeling sorry for her teammates though, her withdrawing from the team event almost certainly cost them the gold medal. No doubt at all she made the right decision for her though
It really didn't - one of the team won the individual gold today and they're a very strong team. They might not have even got silver if she had continued when she was struggling so much. Her one routine did not score well.
lastqueenofscotland · 29/07/2021 16:40

It didn’t cost them gold, she wasn’t on form at all.
She did a seriously brave thing. This is a woman who’s won competitions with broken bones and kidney stones, as well as been at the front of a very very public sexual abuse trail, and people who whinge that they have to wear masks in shops and couldn’t go to the pub for a bit are saying she lacks resilience.

lastqueenofscotland · 29/07/2021 16:40

And she came back out, cheered her team on, helped with chalks/hand guards etc. A real team player

PompomDahlia · 29/07/2021 16:49

I read something on Twitter from a gymnast about what happens when you get the ‘twisties’ - that basically you rely on muscle memory to do the amazing twists and flips and when you get the ‘twisties’ your head isn’t in the right place so you lose muscle memory - like suddenly forgetting how to drive a car when you’re changing lanes on the motorway. The very real possibility of getting seriously injured would be terrifying. Hope she can come back strong, she’s absolutely amazing.

Bit much seeing people criticise her when they lack an ounce of the determination and work ethic it would’ve taken to get to her position, especially as iirc she’s had a rough time

Surreyvillager · 29/07/2021 16:54

She is an exceptional young woman. Very inspirational.

3ormorecharacters · 29/07/2021 16:59

I'll admit that initially I felt it was a bit unsporting to pull out of a competition because you don't feel like you can win it, but I've done a 180 now having thought and read about it some more. It's not a decision she would have taken lightly by any means, and I loved how she turned up to support her teammates. Good on her!

newnortherner111 · 29/07/2021 17:03

I hope Simone Biles is able to compete in the next Olympics if it is her wish.

Needaholiday101 · 29/07/2021 17:07

She is amazing and inspirational. My daughter had followed her for years and we emailed her last year for a school project. She replied with a lovely personal video clip message.

Original poster
Cwtchycoopark · 29/07/2021 17:08

I've just been reading about the twisties. It sounds absolutely terrifying and potentially extremely dangerous.

It was so heart warming to see Michelle Obama tweeting a message of support. It cancels out Piers Morgan's ridiculous comments a thousand times over.

OP posts:
Original poster
Cwtchycoopark · 29/07/2021 17:10

@Needaholiday101

She is amazing and inspirational. My daughter had followed her for years and we emailed her last year for a school project. She replied with a lovely personal video clip message.
That's amazing.
OP posts:
Dragon50 · 29/07/2021 17:11

@KittenKong I’m Envy that you got to see her.

She’s the goat.

Doesn’t she have a move named after her that is classed as ‘only experts try this’ due to complexity?

Also, I think she’s insinuated that she cost the team gold and didn’t want to cost them silver?

I wish her all the best.

MmeTDefarge · 29/07/2021 17:11

Piers Morgan managed to embarrass himself massively with his comments.

Dragon50 · 29/07/2021 17:12

I only started watching the olympics (bar opening) because of Biles.

I have a massive girl crush on her Blush

MotionActivatedDog · 29/07/2021 17:14

@Louiselady500

She is incredible. The abuse she has suffered throughout her gymnastics career is shocking and horrific. The fact that she stood up so strongly for herself and did what she needed to do despite all the pressure she is under is awe-inspiring. She is an amazing role model for young people and should be supported and congratulated on so many levels. What a woman!!!
This! She will have given many young people the confidence to say “I need a break/I need to stop/ I’m not well/I’m not happy” rather than carrying on and making themselves feel ill or risking injury.
Phineyj · 29/07/2021 17:17

I love watching her. I'm not particularly into gymnastics but I'll gladly watch anyone at the top of their game who is clearly enjoying themselves. DH says she is a miracle of physics - exactly the right combo of height, power and speed for those incredible tumbles. After watching her vault the other day before she stepped out I thought about doing something like that without 100% confidence of landing safely and it was Shock.

I think she's incredible. I struggled to learn to do a forward roll when I was a kid. My younger sister took pity on me and taught me Grin.

RaindropsOnRosie · 29/07/2021 17:18

Good on her for making the right decision. It's just a competition- gold or not her and her team have done excellently and have hundreds of opportunities to show their skill. People like Piers Morgan saying she's let anyone down can unkindly fuck off.

334bu · 29/07/2021 17:19

Good for her. She has overcome a great deal in her short life, from childhood neglect to sexual abuse. It is wonderful that she now has the confidence to say enough is enough and prioritise herself.

ShadowInVain · 29/07/2021 17:19

A very brave decision. She's a great role model. I wish her all the best.