Simone Biles Reveals How Therapy Helped Her Going into 2024 Olympics: ‘I Feel a Lot More Free’

Simone Biles reflected connected really going to therapy helped amended her intelligence wellness amid nan 2024 Olympics successful Paris.

While appearing connected nan Wednesday, July 31, section of nan “Making Space pinch Hoda Kotb” podcast, Hoda, 59, noted that Simone, 27, seems overmuch much unfastened astir her intelligence wellness than she did erstwhile she made her Olympics debut successful 2016. “You don’t hide things anymore. You speak them retired loud. You talk astir therapy, wherever you are, wherever you’re going. Tell maine astir this portion of you,” nan big said.

“I’ve ever tried to enactment authentic to myself, truthful I consciousness for illustration nan caller me, I’m a small spot older, much mature, truthful conscionable being unapologetically me,” nan Olympian responded.

Hoda past pointed retired that burying things to “appear stronger” tin sometimes beryllium “the worst idea.”

“I consciousness a batch much free, particularly going to therapy and doing those sessions truthful that physically and mentally I consciousness better, and I cognize that’s an important portion of my routine,” Simone said. “So conscionable staying connected apical of that, it lightens nan load a lot.”

Simone and Hoda went connected to talk erstwhile the jock knowledgeable nan “twisties” during nan 2021 Olympics. The vulnerable arena is erstwhile gymnasts suffer their knowing of wherever they are while successful nan air, which puts them astatine consequence of wounded erstwhile they land.

She confirmed she had nan twisties successful a July 2021 Instagram post. “I can’t moreover fathom twisting,” she said astatine nan time.”I earnestly cannot comprehend really to twist. Strangest and weirdest point arsenic good arsenic feeling.”

After nan acquisition forced her to measurement backmost during nan Tokyo Olympics, Simone started going to therapy to activity done nan issue.

“I think, before, I was pushing down my trauma, and now I’ve learned to speak connected it and benignant of merchandise that,” nan Ohio autochthonal said. “So that’s really helped me, and that’s why I’m doing what I’m doing today.”

While she noted that group “used to deliberation of therapy arsenic a weakness,” she said she now views it arsenic “a strength.” Simone continued, “And if there’s personification that tin thief maine woody pinch what I’m going through, past that’s what I request to do. And now it’s a regular portion of my routine.”

Simone made a memorable comeback during nan 2024 Olympics, and she and Team U.S.A. took location a golden badge successful nan women’s squad last connected Tuesday, July 30. The badge made Simone nan astir dressed up female Olympic gymnast of each time.

After Team U.S.A. won gold, Simone told reporters during a property convention that she started nan historical time by going to therapy.

“At nan opening of nan day, I started disconnected pinch therapy this morning, truthful that was ace exciting. I told her I was emotion calm and fresh and that’s benignant of precisely what happened,” she shared. “After I vanished vault, I was relieved. I was like, ‘Phew,’ because [there were] nary flashbacks aliases anything.”