“Like I Failed Him”: Scared of Ban, Simone Biles’ Couldn’t Face Coach Laurent After Withdrawing From Tokyo Olympics

The 2021 Tokyo Olympics saw a pivotal moment in gymnastics history when Simone Biles courageously decided to confront the enigmatic challenge known as the “Twisties.” In a sport where precision and control reign supreme, Biles openly admitted she “literally cannot tell up from down.” Biles made the agonizing choice to withdraw from both the women’s team final and the individual all-around finals, relinquishing her chance at Olympic glory in several events.

Yet, in the wake of her departure, she faced a barrage of criticism, with some labeling her the “biggest quitter in sports.” Now, as she embarks on her journey towards the next Olympic cycle, Biles has opened up about the aftermath of her decision, revealing that she couldn’t bear to face her coach, Laurent Landi, in Tokyo.

Simone Biles reveals her fear of letting down Laurent Landi

On the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, hosted by the charismatic Alex Cooper, the incredibly talented Simone Biles offered a raw and deeply personal reflection on her challenging journey during the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Simone Biles conveyed that the medal she was pursuing wasn’t solely for herself, but for everyone who had contributed to her journey. She admitted that, at one point, the pressure became so intense that she couldn’t even bring herself to look at her coach, Laurent Landi, and his wife’s coach, Cecile Landi.

She said, “I felt like I failed him. And I’ve never said that out loud. So it’s like in, and they’ve helped me get to that point. ’cause I never thought I was gonna do gymnastics again. And so I felt like I let down Laurent.” This admission also came as Simone Biles shared she was scared that even her country would ‘hate her.’

Why Biles was too scared to even return home?

In a candid conversation on the Call Her Daddy podcast, Simone Biles peeled back the layers of pressure she felt from the United States and the entire world. She said, “If I could’ve gotten on a plane and flown home, I would’ve done it. I thought I was going to be banned from America ‘cause that’s what they tell you: ‘Don’t come back if not gold. Gold or bust. Don’t come back.’”

Despite her struggles, Biles managed to compete in the beam final, where she won a bronze medal, which she considered one of the most meaningful achievements of her career. As she, alongside her coaches Laurent Landi and Cecile Landi, sets her sights on the Pairs Olympics 2024, fans hope for her redemption and eagerly anticipate the resurgence of a team set to once again elevate American pride on the global stage.