Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Gymnastics Recap
The Many History-making Cultural Shifts
of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics
Mental Health
For those who missed it, Simone Biles experienced the “twisties” at one of the most inopportune times. This forced her to make the hard decision to pull out of the team finals after a very scary first attempt at her vault. For those who have experienced twisties themselves, no explanation is needed because it is terrifying, but for those who have not experienced it themselves, our #TLAGteam member Andrea Orris explained it perfectly below:
Simone Biles made the brave and honorable choice to prioritize her mental health at one of the most vulnerable and high-pressure times. Gymnastics is no joke. What the public sees is how physically trying it is on the body, but what is not as obvious to the naked eye is the mental and emotional drain of the level of dedication it takes to perform in this sport… especially to perform on an Olympic level.
This woman is an Olympian. She has broken down barriers in our sport - first with gymnastics skills and now with this act of strength - and she represents all that is good and beautiful about our sport. She deserves our respect, our support, our love and our prayers for peace. A true hero making history by rewriting the future of the sport of gymnastics - a culture that was desperately calling out for change she has single-handedly blown wide open from the top.
Thank you, Simone - not only for all you have given our incredible sport of gymnastics, but for standing up for what truly matters when it mattered most, your health. You are a champion.
For those of you who missed it, Simone herself shared Andrea’s post below. Andrea encapsulated the words Simone was not able to find just yet and we are so proud of Andrea for standing up for cultural change in our sport.
New Era of Coaching
It is also important to consider what Simone prioritizing her mental health- and her coaches supporting this decision - means for the future of coaching in our sport. Historically, Team USA does not have the greatest track record. In the Karolyi Era I can almost guarantee something like this would not have went over well. Think back to Kerry Strug, a young woman who suffered a broken ankle during her Olympic performance who was not only encouraged to finish the competition, but commended for doing so.
Simone’s coaches for Tokyo 2020, Cecile and Laurent Landi represented the new era of coaching that lies ahead. They supported and respected her decision and allowed her autonomy over her body. This is immensely reassuring for the future of Team USA.
Teamwork
Jordan Chiles, Sunisa Lee and Grace McCallum were a perfect example of support, teamwork and friendship. They raised one another up, and ultimately they rose together. They embodied grace, power, and precision with a fierce fight until the end. It is tremendously honorable for these young ladies who have trained their whole lives for this moment, to come together, support one another unwaveringly, prioritize their WHOLE health and step up to WIN a silver medal. What an accomplishment. At the end of the day, their Olympic success stretches far beyond the sport of gymnastics. This is a group of truly commendable young women and Olympic Silver Medalists!
Being Proud of Performance
The men fell short of the podium, but they absolutely did not disappoint. Their performance was nothing short of incredible, playing to each of the athlete’s strengths and demonstrating power and artistic excellence. The US has been focused on medals - more specifically, medal color - for so long, that sometimes we lose sight of the more important aspects, the enjoyment tied to the culmination of your Olympic dreams coming to light. Sam Mikulak, Yul Moldauer, Brody Malone and Shane Wiskus represented what dedication and love for a sport looks like on the most impressive of stages, the Olympic games.
Uniforms
The female gymnasts of Germany took to fashion sporting unitards as a stand against sexualization. They opted for comfort during their Olympic performance. This bold stance challenges the typical cultural norms associated with the gymnastics leotard. This was incredibly important in emphasizing the beauty of the skills themselves, rather than the body performing them. Thank you Sarah Vossi, Pauline Schafer, Elisabeth Seitz and Kim Bui for standing up for what you believe in.
Olympic Excellence
I wanted to close by congratulating ALL of our Team USA Olympic gymnasts who competed in Tokyo 2020 and sharing some highlights from the events: