After 9th Win, Simone Biles Addresses Her Triumph Over Setbacks at US Gymnastics Championships: “Years of Therapy”

Tonight in the Xfinity US Gymnastics Championships, Simone Biles faced an uneven step in her vault routine. She couldn’t manage her landing after completing the vault and that resulted in her fall. But the Olympian didn’t lose her mojo despite that. Soon she stood on her feet with her known glimmering smile. When such a fall could have debilitated the momentum, Simone Biles’ smile on the face kept the audience in awe. Later in her post-game interview, Simone Biles acknowledged her year-long therapy and the cooperation from her sphere to make her achieve such a never-die attitude. 

Furthermore, calling herself a ‘veteran’ of the game, Simone Biles said. “I’m a little bit older, so I know exactly how to kind of reboot and recollect myself to move on to the next event… I know exactly how to switch my mindset and keep going. And I think it’s years of therapy.” Such a mindset helped her to claim her ninth US Gymnastics Championships laurel tonight. However, some form of credit went to Simone’s coach, Cecile, Laurent Landi, and her teammates, as she acknowledged that help in her interview. 

Yet, the pivotal point was Simone Biles’ comeback this year and back-to-back all-around title victories at the Core Hydration Classic and Xfinity US Gymnastics Championships. Previously, Simone’s coach, Cecile Landi, had named the quest for another Olympic chance as the success juice for her this season. Today, in her post-game interview, the former Olympic all-around champion agreed on the same factor to drove her at the age of 27. 

Focusing on that part, Simone Biles said, “Everyone says I look like I’m having fun, so that’s good. Because I feel like most of the time I’m not stressing or having anxiety, I do feel like I’m having fun, so it’s good to have that and feel that again.” Certainly, she is looking almost set to complete her unfinished job left by her in the Tokyo Olympics. But with therapy, her engagement is not new. 

Simone Biles sets her eyes on bigger stakes

In several of her interviews, Simone Biles has explained that she aims to do better than what she did the previous day. That is why, every time she steps on the mat, her ideals drive her to go beyond her ability. Such a resolute aim is bound to take a toll on an athlete’s body. But for her, the pain doubled after her experiences with the then-national team coach Marta Karolyi and the team doctor Larry Nassar. 

Both experiences came with different fangs, but on Simone, those left a massive mark on her mental state. So, in such a dreary hour, she had nothing but to move to therapy to bring herself back to lighter moments. Demonstrating that part, she said, “I thought I could figure it out on my own, but that’s sometimes not the case. And that’s not something you should feel guilty or ashamed of.” However, she had positive results: “Once I got over that fact, I actually enjoyed it and looked forward to going to therapy. It’s a safe space.”

The Texas native gymnast could easily say, “Before I would only focus on the gym. But me being happy outside the gym is just as important as me being happy and doing well in the gym. Now it’s like everything’s coming together.” However, the tune broke in the Tokyo Olympics when she had to leave the mat because of her ‘twisties’. Afterward, she didn’t stop her medication. Furthermore, shedding light on that life, Simone once said, she’s “always been in therapy”. She finds no wrong in it and for the gymnasts, she advocates to have medicine to be on the right feet.  Tonight, Simone Biles once again broke the stigma of talking about having therapy.