Simone Biles Opens Up About ‘Petrifying’ Mental Block At Olympics

Simone Biles is opening up about the “petrifying” mental block that has been plaguing her time at the Tokyo Olympics.

Biles withdrew from the team and individual all-around competitions to focus on her mental health after getting lost in the air — which she refers to as the “twisties” — during the opening vault in the team competition.

The four-time Olympic gold medalist opened up about her struggles during a Q&A session with fans.

“It’s honestly petrifying trying to do a skill but not having your mind & body in sync,” Biles wrote on social media, as transcribed by TMZ Sports. “Literally can not tell up from down. It’s the craziest feeling ever. Not having an inch of control over your body.  What’s even scarier is 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. head/hands/feet/back.”

Biles said that she has experienced the situation before and that it usually goes away but there is no strict timetable for how long it impacts her.

“Typically for me it’s usually 2 or more weeks when I’ve had them before,”she said. “Honestly no telling time frame something you have to take literally day by day, turn by turn.

“For anyone saying I quit, I didn’t quit. My mind & body are simply not in sync.” She added, “Physical health is mental health.”

The 24-year-old has not committed to competing in individual competitions in Tokyo, simply stating she will continue to take things one day at a time.