As collective fans of gymnastics can attest, we are all familiar with Simone Biles’ torrid time at the Tokyo Olympics because of the ‘twisties,’ a peculiar phenomenon in gymnastics where athletes suddenly lose their sense of spatial orientation mid-air during a routine. The same thing happened to Biles when she went for her vault in 2021, planning a 2½ twist but only managing 1½ before losing her bearings. She described it as scary, saying, ‘I had no idea where I was in the air. I could have hurt myself.’ This ‘twisties’ trouble led her to withdraw from the team final.
But initially, Biles was really scared about how people would react, “the world is going to hate me. That was my first thought … I thought I was going to be banned from America” for not winning gold. But instead, she got tons of support from fellow gymnasts and athletes from different sports. Michael Phelps, Michael McCahey, and Aly Raisman, as well as figures from outside the sport, such as Hoda Kotb, supported her. Even athletes from different countries rallied behind her, including an Irish athlete who is set to represent Ireland in the upcoming Paris Olympics, supported her.
Rising above mental challenges with power – Irish champ comes in clutch
Rhys McClenaghan, a 24-year-old gymnast who secured automatic qualification by retaining the pommel horse title at the World Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp in October 2023, supported Biles at that time when she faced twisties. McClenaghan first made his Olympic debut in 2021, finishing seventh in the pommel horse event in Tokyo. However, during the Tokyo Olympics, when he learned of Simone Biles’ exit, he spoke up in support of her. “Mental blocks ain’t no joke, I’ve experienced this firsthand throughout my career and they are still the most challenging times I’ve faced,” he tweeted on X. He further added, “Only people who have experienced this can fully understand the stress that comes with it.”
Since then, three years have passed, and McClenaghan himself has been diligently working on his mental approach. Last year, he faced a significant challenge when he suffered a panic attack for the first time just weeks before his gold medal triumph at the World Gymnastics Championships in 2023. However, he acknowledges the importance of his collaboration with his coach, Luke Carson, and sports psychologist Jessie Barr, especially after a difficult time at the Paris World Cup last year.
Reflecting on his experience, McClenaghan shared, “My body was completely healthy, I was physically ready, but my mind wasn’t quite happy, if I’m honest. Even in the warm-up before my routine in Paris, I was more nervous than I had ever been before – and, quite honestly, had a bit of a panic attack before I competed. It was a very strange feeling – a feeling that I had never experienced before.” Despite this challenge, McClenaghan persevered, conquered it, and is now vying for Paris, much like Biles is envisaging after the Tokyo 2020 farrago.
Simone Biles rises akin to a phoenix from the ashes
Simone Biles dazzled the world with her comeback at the 2023 World Championships in Belgium, snagging an impressive four gold medals and reaffirming her unmatched talent in gymnastics. Starting off this season with a bang, she cruised to victory at the Core Hydration Classics, leaving no doubt about her readiness for the upcoming Olympics. With Paris on the horizon, Biles is pouring her heart and soul into training, determined to leave the ghosts of Tokyo behind.
She shared her newfound focus on self-care and balancing life’s priorities. As she continues to dominate events like the U.S Classics and Xfinity Championship this year. As she recently puts it after winning the Xfinity Championship, “Just making sure I’m healthy mentally and physically, and I think at this point, mentally is just as important as I physically feel. So just making sure I go to my therapy sessions weekly.” The world eagerly awaits her moment of glory, anticipating another unforgettable performance from the incomparable Simone Biles.
