Simone Biles was on her way to adding to her already crazy resume in 2021, when suddenly she couldn't.
Out of nowhere, at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, Biles experienced the “twisties,” better known as gymnastics yips.
So after winning four gold medals in Rio in 2016, Biles competed in just one individual event five years later, winning bronze on the balance beam.
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Gold medalist Simone Biles poses during the medal ceremony at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships at the Antwerp Sportpaleis on October 6, 2023, in Belgium. (Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
Biles received a lot of criticism, with many in the media saying that she had resigned from her team; His reasoning was his physical safety as well as the possibility of poor performance on the team.
But former Olympian and 2008 gold medalist Shawn Johnson is one of his supporters.
“It literally happens to anyone. I think it's just a reminder that every athlete that competes there is human and they're going through a lot,” Johnson said in a recent interview with Fox News Digital. “You only see on TV the nonsense about how robotic and machine-like they are, when in reality they're just kids. They're just people.
“In Simone's particular case, I wish her nothing but the best, and I would just say that human flaws happen. A human flaw, a human error, doesn't mean that's who you are. It's just that we're all going to have them.”
He did not compete in 2022, but was completely dominant in 2023, winning four gold medals at the World Championships.
Simone Biles performs floor exercises at the US Classic gymnastics competition on August 5, 2023, in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
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That brought her tally of World Championship gold medals to 23; therefore, Johnson gave Biles the GOAT crown.
“Simone is Simone. Simone is the best we've ever seen in the history of our sport. I don't care what happens, I don't care if he just shows up and says hello and doesn't compete, that doesn't matter.” I wouldn't change history for her. I would be very excited to see her compete, but she literally has nothing to prove. She is the best forever.
“I'm excited to see her compete, obviously, but she doesn't have to do anything. Right now, she's just racking up medals.”
Simone Biles reacts after winning the floor exercise at the US Classic competition, August 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
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Biles will most likely be in Paris this summer hoping to contribute to what Johnson says is the resume of all-time greats. And Johnson says she'll be a “giant cheerleader.”
“I feel like it's such a small world that I know girls through a couple degrees of separation; I'm an old man,” Johnson joked. “I'm not in it anymore, but I'll be there cheering them on and I'll be the one to say, 'No matter what you do, you've done an amazing job.' They're superhuman and I'm just cheering them on.”
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