Simone Biles is leaving Paris with an impressive haul of four Olympic medals, a stark contrast to her performance at the Tokyo 2020 Games, where she struggled with the ‘Twisties.’

In a recent chat with NBC’s Today Show, Biles shared how her therapy sessions were crucial to her success.

She explained, “I saw my therapist regularly throughout this entire process.

Whether it was before or after qualifications, I made sure to get on a call and do my therapy sessions. It’s a routine for me now.”

The difference was clear.

At the Tokyo Games, Biles only managed to secure a single bronze medal before withdrawing due to the ‘Twisties,’ a condition that affects gymnasts’ spatial awareness and poses significant risks.

A Remarkable Comeback

This time around in Paris, the therapy sessions paid off. Biles clinched gold in the team event, all-around, and vault, along with a silver medal for her floor exercise.

“The therapy sessions gave me the confidence I needed,” Biles said. “We do a lot of visualizations before meets, so I felt comfortable and confident. Since it’s part of my daily routine, we continued it even while I was across the world.”

Biles also opened up about her emotional journey leading up to her stunning all-around gold medal win. In a TikTok video posted before the competition, she provided a glimpse into her Olympic village life, captioning it: “Get ready with meeee for all around finals @ the Olympics.”

She revealed her nerves and the impact of therapy on her preparation, noting, “I am really nervous, that is to be expected. I just had therapy this morning, so I am feeling a little better. I have worked so hard mentally to get to this moment.”

Navigating Fame and Anxiety

Biles shared that she had largely avoided the Olympic village in Paris due to overwhelming fan attention.

“I haven’t done much around the village,” she admitted. “On the first day, I was swarmed with people wanting photos, and it made my anxiety so bad I was shaking.”

She continued, “I haven’t been to the cafeteria for five days because of the anxiety. I just stock up on food and stay in my room.”

Mental Health and Athletic Excellence

Biles has been open about her mental health struggles, especially given her phenomenal success in gymnastics. During the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, she withdrew due to mental health issues and later described her experience with the ‘Twisties.’

In a June interview with NBC, Biles described her weekly therapy sessions as “kind of religious,” underscoring their importance to her well-being and performance.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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