“Had the Twisties”: After Simone Biles, Teammate Leanne Wong Confesses to Gymnast’s ‘Biggest Nightmare’ (Exclusive)

The recent 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium, were an epic showdown. The women of Team USA shined bright on this global stage with their grit, poise, and determination. The team of five, which included Simone Biles, Leanne Wong, Shilese Jones, Skye Blakely, and Joscelyn Roberson made their country proud and clinched America’s seventh consecutive World Championship title. History was made, and Simone Biles, who was back on the global stage after her 2-year hiatus since the Tokyo Olympics, dominated the Sportpaleis.

Biles had caused quite a stir when she pulled out of two Olympic finals at the Tokyo Olympics back in 2021. She explained her decision to withdraw, saying she was “having a little bit of the twisties”. Two years after the challenges with twisties, Biles endured. Now, in an exclusive interview with Essentially Sports, the iconic Leanne Wong opened up about what happens behind the scenes in gymnastics. The 2021 world’s all-around silver medalist and the 2022, 2023 team world’s gold medalist confessed to facing every gymnasts’ biggest nightmare.

Leanne Wong opens up about every gymnast’s nightmare

Leanne Wong was recently asked in an exclusive interview by Essentially Sports, “a lot of gymnasts struggle with ‘Twisties’ including Simone Biles, have you ever been through the same?” To which the 20-year-old star replied, “Yes, I have had the ‘Twisties’ and they are a gymnast’s biggest nightmare. It can be a scary time of a gymnast’s career when they don’t feel like they have control over their body. It’s important to go back to the basics and not stress over the issue”. “Twisties” refers to a mental phenomenon that can affect gymnasts by causing them to lose their sense of position while executing intricate twists mid-air.

This mental block can be quite scary, as the loss of spatial awareness can even lead to gymnasts having no control over their bodies and can cause serious injury.  In the case of Biles, they made her feel unsafe, as she said she could “not tell up from down.” Wong, like Biles, has openly shared her struggles with this mental block and has offered insights on how gymnasts could help themselves and evolve from the challenge by simply going back and relearning what they already know for a clearer perspective. Wong, who showed the utmost team spirit at the championships, is the brightest rising star in the gymnastics world.

A rising star in the gymnastics world

Florida Gators’ Leanne Wong, has made waves in the gymnastics world this year with her incredible talent. At the 2023 Core Hydration Classic, she finished second in the all-around behind the legendary Biles and took home the silver medal. Then, at the 2023 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships, with her incredible skills, she edged close behind Simone Biles and Shilese Jones and took home the bronze medal.

The Quest Nutrition partner has steadily cemented her status as a rising star in the sport. She showed her prowess by proudly representing Team USA on the global stage at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium. At the global games, with incredible camaraderie, she won our hearts by stepping up and performing on the vault and floor when her teammate Joscelyn Roberson had to step out of competition due to a heartbreaking injury.

Read more: “Appreciate You”: Simone Biles’ Heartfelt Message to Unsung Hero Goes Viral in Special Note of Gratitude

Her journey includes her love for her own small business involvement with bows, as seen in “Leanne Wong’s Bowtique.” She showed her support for breast cancer through her business project earlier this month. Leanne’s display of remarkable courage when confronting challenges like the dreaded “Twisties,” and her unflinching support for her teammates has garnered respect from fans worldwide. Gymnastics fans are intrigued by this powerhouse of immense talent and eagerly anticipate her next moves.

Watch this story: In the Wake of World Championship Glory, Simone Biles Forges Ahead To Redefine Greatness