Kingshirtstore

Simone Biles and 'the twisties': How fear affects the mental health and physical safety of gymnasts Simone Biles and ‘the twisties’: How fear affects the mental health and physical safety of gymnasts     You can learn a lot about a subculture by the slang it develops. Gymnastics has a lot of slang around fear: the twisties, headcasing, mental block, bailing, balking. Gymnastics is obviously physically demanding with a high injury rate. But it is extremely difficult psychologically as well. Many of the skills could kill you. When Kevin Durant’s foot was off by an inch in Game 7 of the NBA’s Eastern Conference semifinals, his shot was worth two points instead of three, and the Brooklyn Nets lost in overtime. When Riley McCusker’s foot was off by an inch on her beam dismount at the 2017 American Cup, she slammed backward onto her neck and then rolled over it. For every perfect, floaty flip performed in competition, there are thousands done in practice, many of them ending with sc...