Simone Biles Returns from “The Twisties” After Tokyo, While Others Struggle

In the world of gymnastics, the term “the twisties” used to be spoken in hushed tones, as if acknowledging this athlete’s sudden loss of air awareness during routines would exacerbate the issue.

Gymnastics coach Mark Williams referred to it as almost mythical, causing a shudder among those who heard the term due to its severity. However, Simone Biles, the celebrated gymnast, managed to overcome it two years after the Tokyo Olympics, where she withdrew from multiple events, including the team and all-around finals, to protect herself.

Biles made her comeback and won a bronze medal on the balance beam, but she admitted that the twisties hadn’t completely vanished. Nevertheless, she and her coach, Cecile Landi, found a way to work around the issue and alter her routine, avoiding twisting elements.

Now, she is set to compete in the U.S. Classic, but it won’t be an easy journey, especially on the uneven bars, where continuous flipping, floating, and twisting from bar to bar is mentally and physically challenging.

While Biles is fighting to return to her top form, not everyone has the same fortune. Gage Dyer, a talented gymnast eyeing a spot at the 2021 world championships, fell victim to the twisties a month after Biles brought attention to the condition and its impact on mental health.

Dyer’s confidence soared after solid performances at the 2021 Olympic trials, but when he tried to increase the difficulty of his routines, things went awry. The basics he had mastered earlier seemed to disappear, leaving him confused and struggling. He couldn’t perform the once “super basic” move, the “full in” — a double backflip with a full twist.

Unlike Biles, Dyer didn’t have the luxury of stepping back mentally. Trying to prove himself for the world stage, he kept pushing, but his efforts led to chaos, and he suffered an ankle injury in training. Even after a break, he couldn’t regain his former abilities and ultimately retired from competitive gymnastics.

Now working in the “Lion King” show at Walt Disney World, Dyer occasionally experiences moments of nostalgia, but he has found peace with the chapter of life he’s in and isn’t planning a return to competitive gymnastics.

Nevertheless, Dyer believes that Biles’ openness about her struggle with the twisties has made it easier for athletes to discuss the issue and seek help. Her journey of coming back to compete demonstrates that there is a way forward for those who face similar challenges.

As Biles prepares to step back into the spotlight, she remains an inspiration for fellow gymnasts like Dyer, proving that it’s possible to overcome the twisties and return to a high level of competition.

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• “The twisties”: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/olympics/2021/07/30/simone-biles-twisties-gymnastics/
• Simone Biles’ return to gymnastics: https://www.cbssports.com/olympics/news/simone-biles-set-for-first-competition-since-tokyo-as-usa-gymnastics-classic-nears/
• Mental health in sports: https://www.apa.org/monitor/2019/02/athletes-mental-health
• Gage Dyer’s experience with the twisties: https://apnews.com/article/2024-paris-olympics-gymnastics-sports-health-mark-williams-53c8e4e983a5a1f65d53ad1bde3e90ab
• Impact of Simone Biles’ openness: https://www.npr.org/2021/08/12/1027372896/simone-biles-and-the-case-of-the-twisties