Episode 3: The Twisties

We’ve talked about the yips, but what about the twisties? The infamous variety of yips that afflicts aerial athletes, the twisties is a term which describes the experience of athletes who lose their sense of proprioception, or their awareness of where their bodies are in space. It was this unusual malady that led to Simone Biles stepping away from the 2020 Summer Olympics, and although she may be the best known athlete to have battled the twisties, Simone Biles is far from the only athlete who has experienced it. To better understand this strange and dangerous phenomenon, Justin sits down with Aimee Boorman, one of the top gymnastics coaches in the world and the former coach of Simone Biles herself. And for a look at how an athlete contends with the twisties–and triumphs in spite of it–you’ll hear from Gary Hunt, one of the best cliff divers in the world and the nine-time Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series Champion. 

 

• Aimee Boorman, a veteran gymnastics coach who has worked with elite gymnasts for many years, and the former coach of Simone Biles
• Gary Hunt, an unrivaled cliff diver and nine-time Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series Champion 

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