Simone Biles today gave the strongest clue yet that she is still badly prepared to continue her quest for Olympic gold and raised fears she may quit the Olympics.
She said she is still struggling to steady her nerves and her competition skills as she decides whether to return to the Olympic arena or walk away.
The 24-year-old four-time Olympic gold medalist invited her doubters to a question-and-answer session and laid bare her current below-standard ability and mood.
Viewers were invited to witness a training calamity which was filmed this morning in Tokyo which is certain to leave Team US officials pondering whether she should quit the Olympics and fly home to take care of her health.
Simone Biles, 24, has shared more details about her mental health struggles
In a series of Instagram stories she explained the feeling of being ‘lost in the air’
In her Instagram video, Simone negotiated the uneven bars in practice, but then failed to land on her feet and instead landed flat on her back.
Such a fault which would cost her heavily in points in Olympic competition if she were to resume her dreams of adding to the four golds she secured in Rio five years ago.
The video was later edited and removed from her Instagram ‘story’.
Biles blamed her downfall on no longer being able to twist between the bars as she has done so brilliantly in the past.
She posted video clips of her practicing in Tokyo with her falling from the bars
She posted video of herself landing on her back as she dismounts from the uneven bars
The gymnastics superstar is still entered in Tokyo for four more events, the women’s vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise.
She interacted with some of her near 6 million Instagram followers from Tokyo today and welcomed questions about what her current physical and mental state is.
She said: ‘Unfortunately, those videos were taken this morning @ practice.’
Simone, from Spring, Texas, said she had not been experiencing problems with ‘twisting’ before she left the US for Japan.
The difficulties began during practice for the team finals on Tuesday, which she bowed out of during the competition with the world watching.
Simone Biles watches from the stands at the Tokyo Olympics gymnastics, artistic Women’s All-Around Final
She said: ‘It randomly started happening after prelims competition they VERY next morning.
‘By that time NO, an alternate was not allowed to be placed in my position for you ‘know it alls’.
‘We have four on a team for a reason. I chose not to continue team competition in jeopardizing losing a medal(of any color) for the girls /US
‘Also for my own safety and health.’
Asked if she still felt ‘off sync’ for non-twisting flips too, she said: ‘Honestly, Kind of. But def better than if I try to twist. Sometimes I can’t even fathom twisting. I seriously cannot comprehend how to twist.
‘(it is) strangest and weirdest thing as well as feeling.’
‘For anyone saying I quit. I didn’t quit, my mind and body are simply not in sync. As you can see here (in the video).
Biles is pictured competing in the vault event of the artistic gymnastics women’s team final earlier this week
‘I also have no idea how I landed on my feet on the vault. If you look at the pictures and my eyes you can see how confused I am as to where I am in the air,’ Biles wrote online
Biles answered a series of questions from loyal fans on Instagram about her ‘twisties’ condition
‘I don’t think you realize how dangerous this is on hard/competition surface
‘Nor do I have to explain why I put health first. Physical health is mental health’
Asked it her efforts were worse on certain apparatus, she said: ‘BTW. It’s never transferred to bars and beam before for me.
‘But this time it’s literally on every event. Which sucks… really bad.’
Simone, referring to Tuesday night when she last competed, explained why she did not perform the expected 2 ½ twist.
‘I also have no idea how I landed on my feet on the vault.
‘If you look at the pictures and my eyes you can see how confused I am as to where I am in the air.
Simone Biles of the United States is comforted by her coach after stumbling on landing the vault in the women’s artistic team all-around finals at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games on Tuesday
‘Thankfully I landed safe enough but I also don’t think some of you realize I was supposed to do a 2 1/2 and I only completed a 1 1/2 twist before it looks like I’ve got shot out of the air.’
She said her team mates were ‘Queens’ for continuing without her and landing the silver medal.
She added: ‘It’s honestly petrifying trying to do a skill but not having your mind and body in sync…10/10 do not recommend.’
Simone added it was ‘unfortunate’ that she would be expected to perform during her Olympic routines ‘ a ton of twists on each event.’
Sources said team US gymnastic officials were working with the star to evaluate whether she was ready and willing to return to the Olympic arena, but the decision would rest finally with her and for her best well-being.