Exploring the Evolution of Women’s Gymnastics Through Simone Biles’ Performance

Superstar Gymnast Simone Biles Returns to Competition

In a surprising turn of events, gymnastics sensation Simone Biles is making her long-awaited comeback at the US Classic this weekend. This marks her first competition since encountering the perplexing challenge known as “the twisties” during the Tokyo Olympics in July of last year.

A Record-Shattering Comeback?

Biles has managed to keep her plans under wraps until recently, leading fans and experts alike to speculate about her readiness for a return. However, scores from an untelevised national training camp have sparked excitement as they indicate that she may be back in top form.

Rumors suggest that Biles has conquered her struggle with the twisties and can now execute complicated twists with ease. In fact, there are whispers that she might even attempt the Yurchenko double-pike vault – a move never before accomplished by any other female gymnast.

The Evolution of Gymnastics Culture

Beyond Biles’ impressive skills on display, there is something much more profound at play here – a transformative shift in gymnastics culture. The days of athletes being subjected to bizarre and cruel treatment are gradually fading away.

An Age-Defying Performance

At just 26 years old, commentators may label Biles as “old” within the context of her sport. It’s widely acknowledged that female gymnasts traditionally start their careers as teenagers with relatively short-lived athletic pursuits. However, little attention is given to the reasons behind this phenomenon.

Jessica O’Beirne, host of the renowned GymCastic podcast, sheds light on the matter: “Gymnastics demands a remarkable strength-to-weight ratio,” she explains. “Nowadays, there’s an emphasis on power – you simply can’t execute the required moves without it.”

The Dark Days of Gymnastics

It’s important to recognize that in years gone by, gymnastics placed undue emphasis on weight rather than strength and power. Coaches would pressure athletes to restrict their food intake in order to maintain a lower body weight. This preference for thinness often resulted in childlike physiques being idealized.

Gymnastics fans now share clips from old competitions that highlight these troubling practices with a mix of astonishment and concern. One sports documentary even quoted Bela Karolyi stating that waiting until after puberty was tantamount to squandering an athlete’s prime years.

A Triumph Over Expectations

Nadia Comaneci became a global sensation when she scored a perfect 10 at just 14 years old during the 1976 Olympics. Yet when she participated in the 1980 Games with a more mature physique, concerns were raised about her ability to excel in her sport.

A commentator remarked about Svetlana Boginskaya in 1991: “Despite some weight gain before the European championships, she managed to secure victory once again – proving her incredible strength. And if anything, she looks even thinner now!”

The Harmful Consequences of Weight Pressure

The unrealistic expectation for gymnasts to maintain extreme thinness not only perpetuated abusive behavior but also proved to be detrimental in the long run. Athletes were put at risk for conditions like the female athlete triad, resulting in irregular periods, decreased energy levels, and weakened bone density.

Former national champion Jennifer Sey described surviving on a diet of apples and lettuce while enduring a coach who screamed, “I don’t coach fat gymnasts!” She even competed with a broken ankle for two years.

Mattie Larson, a world silver medalist in 2010, shared her own harrowing experience: “There was a day when I only ate two triangles of Toblerone. I was exhausted and constantly felt on the verge of passing out after practice. Around age 15 or 16, I resorted to taking excessive amounts of laxatives every day – it was madness.”