Gymnastics is different from many other sports in that there is a significant gap between the elite athletes and the general public. Though not nearly as quickly as Usain Bolt, most individuals can run. Though not nearly as skillfully as Steph Curry, most people can dribble the ball and make some baskets. Although not nearly as good as Katie Ledecky, most people can swim.
However, the majority of people are incapable of even the most basic gymnastics tumbling pass on the floor, or even a single flip on a balance beam or one-time swing over a bar. The typical person isn’t going to be able to vault a vault, much less perform any of those skills to the level that Simone Biles or other top gymnasts can.
Many people are curious about top gymnasts since so few people can perform gymnastics at all, and even fewer can participate at the Olympic level. Simone Biles spoke with Glamour in 2021 to address some common misconceptions and presumptions about elite gymnasts in an effort to allay readers’ curiosity.
Biles categorised the myths into three groups: sport, lifestyle, and physique. Biles will compete for Team USA in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Highlights from her answers are as follows:
“A sport is not gymnastics.”
What, um? Though Biles noted that “every four years, everybody turns in to watch gymnastics, so it’s gotta be a sport at least,” she acknowledged that she hears this a lot.
She then highlighted the factors that make it among the world’s hardest sports in addition to being a sport. She described it as “all sports merged in one.” “You have to be kind of all-in-one—you can’t just be fast; you also have to have agility, jump, flip, and memorise routines.”
“Athletes have a brief career and retire at a young age.”
As a 27-year-old who has already defied the typical retirement age of competitive gymnasts, Biles might not be the best person to bring this up. She brought up the fact that many gymnasts receive college scholarships before retiring at the age of 22 or 23.
“Lessons are pricey, therefore you have to be rich to enter into the sport.”
“It is actually a pretty expensive sport,” Biles confirmed. It’s also a year-long event. You are free to take a break after we don’t have a season. And you basically need to prepare for it your entire life. Therefore, the cost does increase.
“You cannot begin gymnastics at a later age.”
In the world of competitive gymnastics, Biles said that she began when she was about seven years old, which is “late.” “Normally you start as soon as you can walk, or in’mommy and me’ classes,” the woman stated.
“A gymnast cannot be terrified of heights.”
“Yeah, you can,” Biles responded, “but you don’t notice how high you are while you’re flipping in the gym, so I feel like that one’s kind of a myth.” She went on to say that rather than being afraid of falling from a height, her concern is that she will jump from a height. She declared, “I just want to jump off; I don’t want to die.”
“They’re really competitive and not very polite in any facet of life.”
In reality, Biles admitted, “I’m not particularly competitive at all.” “My objective is never to win in a competition or at the gym; it simply kind of occurs. However, I also find it odd that when you’re successful, everyone seems to be waiting for you to fail.”
Her sister, she revealed, competed in gymnastics until she was about seventeen. Even though she was very good, she chose to resign due to pressure and the comparisons made by everyone to her sister. People would often comment on how unfair it was for her to win competitions, saying she had had enough of her sisters’ constant victories.
She continued, “I think that because most of the time we’re so serious you don’t get to see our personality, people also assume gymnasts are really cruel.”
“No play, all work.”
She replied, “Yes and no, I guess we can play after work.” “I’ve discovered that I need to nourish myself in other ways besides working out, like spending time with friends and family, shopping, or anything else. Without gymnastics, I still have to be content at the end of the day.”
“At 4:00 a.m., they had to wake up.”
The time I wake up is not 4:00 a.m. We start practice at 7:00, so that’s why I get up at like 6:15′, she added. “I wouldn’t go to the gym if I had to wake up at 4:00.”
“They’re too busy to look after their mental health.”
Biles said that she attends counselling. She stated, “I think there should be a lot more conversation about it because there’s no need to be ashamed or afraid of it.” “Everyone finds what works for them, and that’s what I’ve simply discovered to work for me.”
“They struggle with body image.”
“I don’t think that’s a misperception about gymnasts; I think that applies to everyone in general. Everyone has problems with their body image; they all desire to look different and believe they are not slender enough. That seems to be the case for everyone in life.
“To do gymnastics, you have to have a specific body type.”
“Everyone was incredibly flexible and tiny back in the day,” Biles remarked, “and everyone had a more trim figure.” But now you can resemble me in terms of height and strength. Thus, I firmly believe that it has changed. Thus, I also believe that to be untrue.”
She continued, “I think that to practice gymnastics, you just have to be in shape, regardless of your body type.” “I believe things have changed. Bar swingers were perceived by all as slightly taller and slimmer. Then, you’re a little bit fatter and shorter if you’re a tumbler. However, it’s now established that you can kind of have both body types and do everything. Thus, it is no longer really significant.”
“They’re quite adaptable.”
“No, not every gymnast is supple,” stated Biles. Because Aly Raisman and I have muscles that overlap, we aren’t as flexible as gymnasts. However, we
have the flexibility to complete the task at hand.”
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