Simone Biles once again demonstrated why she is regarded as one of the greatest gymnasts in the world during the Paris Olympics, where she secured four medals, three of them gold. This performance solidified her status as the best, dispelling any doubts about her prowess.
Her historic achievement will be chronicled in the new season of her documentary Simone Biles Rising, set to release in October. The documentary will focus on her challenges during the competition and how she overcame them, with a promotional teaser released on October 3rd already stirring excitement in the gymnastics community.
One particularly dramatic moment captured in the teaser occurred during a warm-up session at the Paris Olympics when Biles pulled her calf muscle after a rough landing on a practice tumble pass.
Limping afterward, she exited briefly from the qualification round, sparking concern among spectators and her team. The moment, which saw her soothing her injured leg while staff checked on her condition, threatened to derail Team USA’s efforts, as they faced the possibility of competing without their star athlete.
Despite the injury, Biles chose to continue competing, a decision that ultimately paid off with her incredible success in Paris. A key question raised is why she decided to take such a risk. Fellow gymnast Aly Raisman, in the documentary promo, recalled asking Biles after the competition how she managed to perform in so much pain. Biles responded, “I couldn’t have people tell me I was a quitter again,” referencing her experience at the Tokyo Olympics.
At the Tokyo Games, Biles experienced the ‘Twisties,’ a dangerous mental block that affects a gymnast’s ability to perform safely. During the team competition warm-up, she struggled with this issue, leading to her withdrawal from most events, except for the balance beam, where she won bronze.
Her decision to prioritize her mental health at the time led to significant criticism online, with some labeling her a ‘quitter.’ Determined to avoid a repeat of this situation, Biles fought through her injury in Paris, silencing her critics and achieving a triumphant comeback.
The conversation surrounding Biles pushing through the pain raises an important debate about the balance between the mark of a true champion and the risks involved. This theme is expected to be explored in depth during the upcoming documentary, as it was a pivotal moment in her journey.
The second season of Simone Biles Rising will debut on October 25th and promises to capture her remarkable return to the world stage following her Tokyo setback. Netflix has announced that the series will provide “intimate access” to Biles’ campaign and personal reflections, building on the success of the first season, which premiered on July 17th before the start of the Paris Olympics.
The first season focused on Biles’ training and comeback preparations and quickly became one of Netflix’s top 10 trending shows within 24 hours of its release. With high anticipation surrounding the second season, it is expected to enjoy similar success as fans eagerly await its premiere.
Leave a Reply