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4 months ago
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In her documentary series, Team USA gymnast Simone Biles took viewers into her 'forbidden Olympic closet' containing items from the Tokyo Olympics.
The series, 'Simone Biles Rising' takes viewers behind the scenes and into the gymnast's personal life.
That includes her recalling the postponed 2020 Tokyo Olympics. It was during those games that Biles withdrew from the individual and team events.
This is because she suffered from a phenomenon known as 'the twisties' - where a gymnast loses a sense of where they are and how they'll land while in mid-air.
Her subsequent withdrawal highlighted the importance of discussing athletes mental health.
Simone Biles took viewers inside her 'forbidden Olympics closet' with items from Tokyo
Items included a Covid mask and a leotard she was set to wear in competitions at the Olympics
The documentary opens the door to the aforementioned closet - where Biles flicks on a light and shows viewers everything inside.
'This is the forbidden Olympic closet,' Biles says while revealing piles of Team USA clothing and other items.
She pulls out a plastic bag which is filled with Team USA pins and other items that she was 'supposed to trade' with other athletes in Tokyo.
“But I didn’t get to because my mood was bad,” she explains.
After the pins, Biles pulls out a Covid mask - something she compared to a 'dog muzzle' which athletes were supposed to wear at the games.
In addition, she also found a boarding pass for her flight from San Francisco to Tokyo, the uniforms she was supposed to wear to the opening and closing ceremonies, and her competition number, 392.
“A lot of this stuff is good keepsake, but it’s in this closet because I never really come in this room,” Biles says, adding, “I used to sit here and just cry and cry and cry — ask God why this happened to me.”
When she uncovers her red, white and blue leotard, she comments, 'Yeah this is a good spot for it for now' - placing it back in the closet.
Biles caught a case of 'the twisties' while competing and backed out of the Tokyo Olympics
Biles is hoping to taste gold again in Paris like she did in Rio back in the 2016 Olympic games
'Even touching it is like ugh— ee, ugh. But, you know, sometimes you have to take that power back,' she says as she closes the doors.
On June 30, Biles officially qualified for the Olympic team at trials in Minneapolis as she finished first in the all-around competition.
She's joined on the US Olympic gymnastics team by Jordan Chiles, Suni Lee, Jade Carey and Hezly Rivera as well as traveling replacements Leanne Wong and Joscelyn Roberson.
The opening ceremony for the Paris Olympics takes place on July 26, being broadcast in the United States on NBC.
English (US)