The Slow Newscast The Greatest: Simone Biles
Jul 23, 2024
Featuring the legendary Simone Biles, the podcast explores her journey from dominating the Rio Olympics to facing mental health issues in Tokyo. It delves into the pressures faced by female gymnasts like Biles and her courage in standing up against the system. The episode also looks forward to her comeback in Paris and the anticipation surrounding her last 15 minutes at the Olympics.
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Coach Remembers Simone As A Tiny Powerhouse
- Amy Borman recalls first seeing a six-year-old Simone as a 'tiny little petit ball of muscle' who immediately drew her attention.
- That early presence hinted at the explosive power and aura Biles later refined into world-class skill.
Size And Power Create Competitive Airtime
- Biles's short stature plus enormous power gives her more airtime relative to body size, enabling higher difficulty.
- She uses that extra time to cram in twists and somersaults judges reward with top scores.
Illusion Of Effortless Flight
- Great gymnasts create an illusion because our brains struggle to process their extraordinary aerial moves.
- Biles's spatial awareness lets her perform moves that look like they violate physics to spectators.