MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST:


Simone Biles has ended her dramatic run by the Olympic gymnastics competitors on a excessive be aware. At this time in Tokyo, Biles received a bronze medal for her efficiency on the steadiness beam. This comes after she pulled out of each different occasion on this system. From Tokyo, NPR's Tom Goldman studies.


TOM GOLDMAN, BYLINE: To be clear, Simone Biles' bronze medal efficiency shouldn't be a victory over the twisties, a illness that turned a part of the world's lexicon over the previous week.


 It is a illness that strikes a gymnast's sense of place as they twist within the air, primarily shedding their manner. And Biles nonetheless has them. When she watches others twisting, she mentioned final night time, quote, "I need to puke each time." What her efficiency did point out is that for one night time, Biles efficiently navigated round her drawback.


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SIMONE BILES: Effectively, the one cause why I might do beam was as a result of there was no twisting. So thank God for that.


GOLDMAN: Truly, there at all times was twisting on the finish of her routine, which she needed to change.


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BILES: We simply final minute determined to modify the dismount, which I most likely haven't carried out since I used to be, like, 12 years outdated as a result of I've at all times twisted off.


GOLDMAN: Following her double pike dismount off the beam - the Worldwide Gymnastics Federation described it as terrific - Biles beamed. She put her hand over her coronary heart and waved to the partially stuffed area, which out of the blue sounded full. She regarded each completely satisfied and relieved. Whereas the efficiency was a piece across the twisties, it did symbolize a victory on this sense. Her psychological struggles had been laid naked in entrance of the world. She'd largely been embraced after pulling out of all of the earlier occasions on the gymnastics program, and the help probably would have continued had she withdrawn from the ultimate one.


However as optimistic as she'd been, resolute about caring for her psychological and bodily well-being, Biles is a fierce competitor who mentioned, quote, "It sucked not to have the ability to compete in all of the finals," for which she certified. That is why, she mentioned, I used to be pleased with myself simply to go on the market after what I have been by. Biles nonetheless would not know why, in her phrases, the wires snapped and threw her thoughts and physique out of sync. She hopes her very public expertise helps others.


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BILES: To convey the subject of psychological well being, I feel it needs to be talked about much more, particularly with athletes, as a result of I do know a few of us are going by the identical issues and we're at all times informed to push by it.


GOLDMAN: Biles says the subsequent Summer season Olympics in Paris aren't in her ideas. I've to go dwelling and work on myself, she mentioned, and be OK with what's occurred.


Tom Goldman, NPR Information, Tokyo.


(SOUNDBITE OF FLYING LOTUS SONG, "9 CARROTS") Transcript supplied by NPR, Copyright NPR.


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