Simone Biles She’s no stranger to success, but even this athlete, who began her gymnastics career at the age of 14 and quickly found success, isn’t immune to adversity. The world was shocked when Biles struggled at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, which took place a year later and eventually withdrew entirely. What followed was a two-year hiatus during which her fans, critics and commentators waited with bated breath to see if the greatest gymnast in history would ever return.
Now that she's back in action and preparing to return for the 2024 Olympics in Paris, the first half of her new four-part documentary has been released, Simone Biles: The RiseIt has been released and is now available to stream on NetflixThe series, which will air its second half after the Olympics, delves behind the scenes of Biles' last few years, featuring interviews with coaches, retired pros, family members, and Simone Biles herself. Without further ado, let's take a look back at the biggest moments in her career. Simone Biles: The Rise.
Family support is everything.
What sometimes seems like a rare sight in competitive gymnastics, especially when athletes start training at a young age, is support from family members. While it is true that pressure comes not only from the public but also from relatives, Simone Biles: The Rise Highlights the refreshing side.
The documentary reveals that Biles' parents attended every competition their daughter competed in.That was until the coronavirus struck, preventing them from joining Simone at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. The isolation had a huge impact on Simone’s mental health, with panic attacks and anxiety, and the fact that her parents couldn’t be there was palpably lonely and distant. As Simone was about to step into the ring for what was, if not the most important competition, her family and relatives gathered in front of the television, watching and supporting Simone from afar.
One of the most touching moments came from Simone right after Nelly decided to withdraw from the competition. The athlete clearly believed she wouldn't make it. While the lyrics reveal how dire her situation really was, it's comforting that her mother responded with nothing but support.What can be seen is a genuine interaction between a caring mother and a trusting daughter, as Nelly assures Simone that there is nothing wrong with withdrawing and taking care of herself, her body and her mental health.
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“Twists” are a real thing.
A word that instantly grabs attention. Simone Biles: The Rise “He is 'twisted'.” “Twists” is a very real term found in gymnastics, and refers to a sudden condition in which an athlete completely loses sense of how their body is moving when in the air.It is a particularly dangerous condition because the loss of control over body movement can greatly affect the way the athlete lands back on the ground.
Anything other than landing on your feet would be extremely dangerous and could result in serious injury. For Biles, her sudden struggle with “sprains” was reason enough to withdraw from the competition. However, she made it clear that her decision to step away was not the same as giving up, but rather a very important choice to protect her body and well-being.
After being pulled out of the Tokyo Olympics due to “sprains” and the intense pressures of competing, Biles faced an uphill battle with mental health. The athlete had to battle intense self-doubt, believing she had lost all of her skills. Amidst this hardship, Biles was convinced she would never return to the ring, and the many hateful comments circulating online only added to this downward spiral.
Whether it’s sports fans, commentators, celebrities, or strangers on the internet, there are plenty of people who have a lot of bad things to say about her. Despite the hate she’s received online, Simone stands out as a strong young woman who isn’t shy about saying that her haters wouldn’t even be able to do a stunt. There’s a power in her voice and a fire in her body that suggests her days on the track, despite initial hesitation, are far from over.
Biles wins world championship again
After days in the gym filled with trying to overcome “twists” and regain her confidence, Simone Biles saw progress and increased motivation. Tears were shed as the many ups and downs filled two years of her life, but Biles eventually returned to face the scrutiny of competition. In a stunning interview during the documentary, she said the decision to return was entirely her own, revealing that this young athlete has grown into a strong, independent woman. She will return at the 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, where she will prove her incredible skills by winning gold after a two-year hiatus.
What makes her championship win one of the most important moments in the documentary is the fact that Biles recalls her nervousness during that time, especially because she had to deal with the skill she failed at at the Tokyo Olympics: the triple double. She talks about the fear she felt, but at the same time she recalls more beautiful thoughts as well. Biles revealed in the interview that she regained her confidence after winning the triple double and felt the tremendous support from her team, coaches and family.What made her 2023 win even more special, she recalls, was the fact that the podium was filled with “black girl magic,” with Rebecca Andrade and Shelly Jones taking silver and bronze, respectively.
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Biles shows dangerous skills
Aside from the triple-double, Biles also showed another skill, which can definitely be classified as very dangerous. The double Yurchenko throw, named after Natalia Yurchenko, was taken to a whole new level by Simone Biles, who added two jumps into the javelin throw position.Needless to say, the speed required to not land on her head is incredibly difficult to achieve, yet the athlete attempted to land it in the tournament, and she certainly managed to do so.
The documentary shows the moment of her amazing success, when the crowds exploded and the risk she took paid off. Thanks to her successful performance, the double Yurchenko jump is now known as the Biles second jump, making it the fifth skill to bear Simone's name and paving the way to the Paris 2024 Olympics..
Simone Biles: The Rise The documentary offers intimate glimpses into her mind, her life, her successes and her fears, shedding light on the downsides that many professional athletes face, but also ensuring that the great moments have room to unfold. This documentary is a testament to who Simone Biles really is, and highlights the importance of listening to one’s body and mind, regardless of what others may think. Biles has been, is and will always be a role model for many, as she continues her journey and inspires others to do the same.
The first part of Simone Biles: Rising provided some noteworthy moments, but that's just the beginning of her story. With the second part of the documentary coming this fall, be sure to stay tuned so you don't miss some of Simone Biles' action scenes.
