I wrote about the twisties — kind of like the yips but upside-down and in mid-air — and what they feel like, why they’re dangerous and how gymnasts try to make them disappearhttps://t.co/Xk41bwRpIg
— Emily Giambalvo (@EmilyGiam) July 28, 2021
Imagine flying through the air, springing off a piece of equipment as you prepare to flip on one axis while twisting on another. It all happens fast, so there’s little time to adjust. You rely on muscle memory, trusting that it’ll work out, because with so much practice, it usually does.But then suddenly, you’re upside down in midair and your brain feels disconnected from your body. Your limbs that usually control how much you spin have stopped listening, and you feel lost. You hope all the years you’ve spent in this sport will guide your body to a safe landing position.When Simone Biles pushed off the vaulting table Tuesday, she entered that terrifying world of uncertainty. In the Olympic team final, Biles planned to perform a 2½-twisting vault, but her mind chose to stall after just 1½ twists instead.
But, for what it's worth to her, she has my 100% support.
If that had been the fate of Ms. Biles in Tokyo, I suppose Piers Morgan would have said she should have known better and withdrawn from the competition.Julissa Gomez was a 1988 U.S. Olympic contender until a vault accident put her in a coma & left her a quadriplegic. She eventually died from her injuries at 18. People calling for Biles to "tough it out" haven't thought through the implications. https://t.co/OlRszCjlLH
— Philip Klein (@philipaklein) July 28, 2021
At least some of them were. Although the bigger mistake is turning out to be "social" media, which is making anti-social assholes of us all because now any clown with an opinion (which are like....what's the word, class? Everybody has one!) into a public figure. Yeah, I don't think that's made us better off. Although the worst part is, although it's only 33 years ago (get off mah lawn, ya punk kids!) I don't remember the story of Ms. Gomez at all. Like as not it was "disappeared" the better to not stain the "glory" of the Olympics.People were a mistake
— HatInProSe (@Popehat) July 28, 2021
Social media didn't make us idiots; it just exposed our idiocy.i'm totally bewildered by the idea of anyone being emotionally affected by anything that happens in the olympics whatsoever -- especially this year -- but the outrage over simone biles stepping back is especially bizarre. are these guys all huge women's gymnastics fans???
— elizabeth bruenig (@ebruenig) July 28, 2021
“ So every Texan has the right to infect other Texans' children? Is that what I'm getting here? Isn't this rather like saying every Texan has a right to fire off guns wildly, because 2nd Amendment?”
ReplyDeleteExcellent point. This is the logic of accounts for sale. If cancer could talk this is what it would say.
Ugh, gotta proofread the dictation. “This is the logic of a cancer cell,” is what that should’ve read.
ReplyDeleteIf she were white the same people would be praising her. I'd love to have her challenge these fat white guys to any basic calisthenics routine.
ReplyDeleteIt's like how everyone instantly turns into an expert on figure skating every four years only with racism, too.