Simone Biles got the 'twisties' during the vault and it could have been deadly

There is something so many of us are forgetting about Simone Biles and the risks that come with participating in gymnastics.

The sport is dangerous. As in, if something goes wrong, you could be injured badly or even paralyzed.

I know I forgot it when I wrote about Biles' decision not to participate in the rest of the women's gymnastics team all-around final. There is SO much pressure on her shoulders coming from all directions, from fan expectations to a year in a pandemic to being a Black female athlete.

What we may not have been factoring in here is the danger of gymnastics. When Biles or anyone else is struggling mentally? It can be deadly.

There's something that Biles cited that she was going through in practice: she called it "the twisties."

What does that mean? Here's a thread:

The Washington Post dove into the twisties and described it this way:

The cute-sounding term, well-known in the gymnastics community, describes a frightening predicament. When gymnasts have the “twisties,” they lose control of their bodies as they spin through the air. Sometimes they twist when they hadn’t planned to. Other times they stop midway through, as Biles did. And after experiencing the twisties once, it’s very difficult to forget. Instinct gets replaced by thought. Thought quickly leads to worry. Worry is difficult to escape.

So this isn't like any other sport. If you're suffering from the twisties, you're putting yourself in extreme danger.

One more thread -- this one's from Deanna Hong, a producer for Peacock's Golden:

This was serious and could have been a lot worse. And it's further proof why Biles stepping away was the absolute right move.