"I was like,'I’m not doing it again'": When Simone Biles reflected on mental struggles before returning to the mat after Tokyo 2020 withdrawal

Simone Biles once opened up on the challenges of returning to sport following the Tokyo Games. At the 2020 Olympics, Simone Biles withdrew from competing in the final event after experiencing "twisties," a phenomenon where the gymnast loses the sync between mind and body while performing a maneuver in the air.

After a long hiatus, the gymnast returned to the mat in 2023 by participating in the U.S. Classic held in August in Hoffman Estates in Chicago, Illinois.

Although Biles showcased her prowess, her return was far from easy. In an interview with Olympics.com published last year in July, the legendary gymnast reflected on the emotional and mental struggles marked by moments when she felt overwhelmed by fear.

“I didn’t know if I was ever going to be able to compete again because there were multiple times this year where I was in the gym and I was like, ‘I’m actually terrified of this full-in, like I’m not doing it again, never going to do it,'"

Biles added:

"And then I was like, ‘You know what? I’m just going to come back another day, another day.’”

At her debut appearance after the break, Biles once again stunned the gymnastics world and clinched gold medals in all-around, balance beam, and floor events and earned a spot to compete at the World Championships held in Antwerp, Belgium.

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Simone Biles named as the 2024 Sportsperson of the Year by Sports Illustrated

Simone Biles of Team United States during the Olympic Games 2024 at Bercy Arena in Paris, France. (Photo by Getty Images)

Following her return to the sport, Simone Biles earned her spot to compete at the Olympic Games in the French capital after participating in the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials.

At the 2024 Paris Games, she cemented her legacy further by taking home three gold and one silver medal. Biles collected her second all-around Olympic gold medal in France after surpassing Rebeca Andrade and defending champion and fellow teammate Suni Lee.

She competed in all four apparatus and contributed to the team's efforts, including Lee, Jared Carey, Jordan Chiles, and Hezly Rivera to clinch a gold medal in the team event. Further, the American gymnast secured another gold and a silver in the vault and floor exercise events, respectively.

Celebrating her glorious feats, Simone Biles was recently named the 2024 Sportsperson of the Year by Sports Illustrated. After her Paris Games heroics, she became the most decorated U.S. Olympic gymnast.