To see the gymnast perfect the tricks on the vault is not something less than magic. It may take a few minutes to perform, but perfecting those few minutes of the trick is the real challenge. As an audience, we are unversed in how complicated things can get. It is something that only the people associated with the sport can co-relate. Thus, when Dominique Moceanu shared a tweet this morning, one can relate to why Simone Biles took such a bold step.
Biles and Moceanu are associated with one of the world’s most physically and mentally demanding sports. Perfecting the tricks not just requires precision but also mental alertness. A second lapse and the results are chilling!
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The stakes are high
Ever since Simone announced her withdrawal from the Tokyo 2021 final individual all-around event, the speculations started that she was retiring. It’s been almost one year since she has participated in any professional event, and former American gymnast Dominique Moceanu can relate to why!
Sharing a video clip of gymnast Keisuke Asato, Dominique wrote on Twitter, “here’s a chilling reminder of how dangerous #gymnastics can be.” She directed the tweet toward those questioning Simone’s decision to withdraw from the Olympic event.
For those who cast doubts on why @Simone_Biles withdrew herself from Olympic competition👇🏻 Here’s a chilling reminder of how dangerous #gymnastics can be. Gymnasts routinely make their performances look so easy that we often forget the level of risk involved.⚠️ https://t.co/cvDRXoU5y1
— Dominique Moceanu (@Dmoceanu) September 28, 2022
In the shared video, Keisuke can be seen making an imperfect land. The young gymnast can be seen in pain. Substantiating her point, she further adds, “performances look so easy that we often forget the level of risk involved.”
With 25 World Championships titles and seven Olympic medals, Simone is undeniably the gymnast GOAT. Thus, while many supported the young gymnast, others were critical of her when she announced her decision.
What prompted Simone Biles to take the step?
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For Simone, the Olympic trajectory was all set. Having qualified for the first round, the fans were ready to see the defending champion strike gold again. However, making heads turn before the finals, she formally announced that she would withdraw!
The reason being-“mental health.” Prioritizing her mental well-being before medals, Biles also announced that she would not compete in the vault and uneven bars. Sharing her experience, she said, “It’s been really stressful this Olympic Games.”
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Now, with the Paris Olympics approaching, it’s unclear whether Simone would be competing, but she has already made it clear that she will soon be returning! Hopefully, fans will get to see her breaking more records soon!