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Talent and the Twisties
It’s one thing to have your heart in it. But you also need your mind.
Gold-medal enthusiast and actual superwoman Simone Biles made headlines when she withdrew from the U.S. gymnastics team’s final in the Tokyo Olympics. She cited mental health struggles and a daunting case of “the twisties,” a condition in which gymnasts, aerialists, and acrobats lose track of their position in the air.
People who have never done so much as a cartwheel were eager to call her a quitter. While Simone was quick to respond that her withdrawal was crucial to her team’s success, an ugly side of American culture had been unmasked: the idea that we should “never give up” … or else, we’re not worthy of acclaim.
As a lifelong performer and, more recently, an aerialist and acrobat, I fully understand the battle between health and performance capability. I’ve felt the sickening fear as I misplaced my hand during a trapeze routine. The shakes that made my muscles quake as I was trying to teach silks to my students. The horrible embarrassment of having lyrics leave my head as stage lights blinded me. And, worst of all, the toxic idea that my worth is entirely dependent on my ability to deliver a performance, no matter the personal cost.
