What Simone Biles says about overcoming fear

Simone Biles is the most decorated gymnast in history, yet her legacy is defined as much by her vulnerability as her gold medals. Through her documentaries, including Simone Biles Rising, and various candid interviews, Biles has reshaped the global conversation on fear. For Biles, courage isn’t the absence of fear; it is the disciplined process of acknowledging it, addressing the “twisties,” and returning to the mat on her own terms.

Facing the “Twisties” and Mental Blocks

The most public display of Biles overcoming fear occurred during the Tokyo Olympics when she experienced the “twisties”—a dangerous mental block where a gymnast loses their sense of space in the air.

“It’s like your brain and your body are having a divorce,” Biles explained.

Her decision to withdraw was an act of overcoming the fear of judgment. She taught the world that the most “fearless” thing an athlete can do is prioritize their safety over a score. To overcome this specific fear, she utilized systematic desensitization, returning to the basics and practicing into foam pits until her brain and body “remarried.”

5 Lessons on Bravery from Simone Biles

• Trust the Training, Not the Feeling: Biles often admits to being “terrified” before attempting a new skill like the Yurchenko Double Pike. Her solution is to lean on the thousands of repetitions she has done in a safe environment. Her Advice: When fear hits, focus on the “autopilot” your body has already built.
• Normalize the Conversation: Biles is a firm advocate for therapy. She believes that keeping fear a secret gives it power. Her Advice: Talk about your anxiety out loud. Once you name the fear, it becomes a problem to solve rather than an invisible monster.
• The Power of “No”: Overcoming the fear of disappointing others is a major theme in her recent journey. Biles emphasizes that saying “no” to a competition or a specific skill is a way of taking control. Her Advice: You are the pilot of your own body; don’t let outside pressure fly the plane.
• Perspective Over Perfection: Biles often reminds herself that she is “more than a gymnast.” By decoupling her self-worth from her results, the fear of failing a landing becomes less paralyzing.
• Visualize the Success, Acknowledge the Risk: Biles uses visualization not to ignore danger, but to prepare for it. She visualizes the “what ifs” and plans her physical response to them, which replaces panic with a plan of action.

Ultimately, Simone Biles proves that the greatest victory over fear is not winning the gold, but standing up and choosing your own path forward, even when your heart is racing.

Source: “Simone Biles Rising” (2024); “Simone vs Herself” (2021); The Call Her Daddy Podcast (2024); VOGUE Cover Feature (2020/2024).

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By Vitalina Andrushchenko, Staff Writer