Afterwards Simone spoke to Hoda Kotb on Today.
Biles also addressed what she believed was the biggest false narrative being pushed after she withdrew from team events last week.
“That I was at no risk and mental health isn’t a serious issue, that it was basically a cop out,” Biles said. “The girls saw me in training, my coaches saw me in training. I physically couldn’t do it safely because I was getting so lost in the air.”
Biles said she returned for the beam because she didn’t have to twist. “I was at less risk,” she added. “Twisties” are a feeling many gymnasts have experienced, causing them to become disoriented in the air, potentially leading to dangerous landings. After winning bronze in Tokyo, Biles now has seven total Olympic medals, tying Shanon Miller for the most by an American gymnast.
“Every day I had to be medically evaluated by the doctors here, and two sessions with the sports psychologists here as well, which helped to keep me a little more level-headed,” the 24-year-old said.
“I was cleared to do beam which I honestly didn’t think I was going to be cleared to do last night.”
During the preceding week she’d struggled with disorientation on every apparatus. There were other things she didn’t talk about publicly, like the death of an aunt several days ago.
