Simone Biles, the most talented, high-soaring gymnast who has ever competed on the world stage, got lost on Tuesday.
Simone Biles drops from team competition Simone Biles, of the United States, enters the court for the artistic gymnastics women's final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) (Gregory Bull/AP)
Simone Biles drops from team competition Simone Biles, of the United States, performs on the vault during the artistic gymnastics women's final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Morry Gash) (Morry Gash/AP)
Simone Biles drops from team competition Simone Biles, of the United States, performs on the vault during the artistic gymnastics women's final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Morry Gash) (Morry Gash/AP)
Simone Biles drops from team competition Simone Biles, of the United States, performs on the vault during the artistic gymnastics women's final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) (Natacha Pisarenko/AP)
Simone Biles drops from team competition Simone Biles, of the United States, stumbles as she lands on the vault during the artistic gymnastics women's final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Morry Gash) (Morry Gash/AP)
Simone Biles drops from team competition Simone Biles, of the United States, performs on the vault during the artistic gymnastics women's final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Morry Gash) (Morry Gash/AP)
Simone Biles drops from team competition Simone Biles, of the United States, performs on the vault during the artistic gymnastics women's final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) (Ashley Landis/AP)
Simone Biles drops from team competition Simone Biles, of the United States, performs on the vault during the artistic gymnastics women's final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Morry Gash) (Morry Gash/AP)
Simone Biles drops from team competition Simone Biles, of the United States, performs on the vault during the artistic gymnastics women's final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) (Gregory Bull/AP)
Simone Biles drops from team competition Simone Biles, of the United States, dismounts from the vault during the artistic gymnastics women's final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) (Gregory Bull/AP)
Simone Biles drops from team competition Simone Biles, of the United States, performs on the vault during the artistic gymnastics women's final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) (Gregory Bull/AP)
Simone Biles drops from team competition Simone Biles, of the United States, performs on the vault during the artistic gymnastics women's final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) (Gregory Bull/AP)
Simone Biles drops from team competition Simone Biles, of the United States, waits for her turn to perform during the artistic gymnastics women's final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) (Gregory Bull/AP)
Simone Biles drops from team competition Simone Biles, of the United States, talks to teammate Sunisa Lee during the artistic gymnastics women's final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) (Gregory Bull/AP)
Simone Biles drops from team competition Coach Laurent Landi embraces Simone Biles, of the United States, during the artistic gymnastics women's finalat the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) (Gregory Bull/AP)
Simone Biles drops from team competition Simone Biles, of the United States, performs on the vault during the artistic gymnastics women's final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) (Ashley Landis/AP)
Simone Biles drops from team competition Simone Biles, of the United States, performs on the vault during the artistic gymnastics women's final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Morry Gash) (Morry Gash/AP)
And while anyone can get lost, Biles got lost in a very dangerous place — about 10 feet in the air above an Olympic vaulting platform.
After the incident Biles, who had planned to do a vault with two-and-a-half twists but instead completed one with a one-and-a-half twist, said she became “a little bit lost in the air.”
>> RELATED STORY: Simone Biles shares new Olympic training videos, says mind and body ‘not in sync’
Many gymnasts, along with her former coach, recognized Biles’ problem as something they call the “twisties.”
“Every once in a while, she would form this block and it usually had nothing to do with the gymnastics itself, it had to do with other things going on in her, in her universe,” Biles’ former coach Amiee Boorman told the “Today” show about the four-time gold medal-winning gymnast.
>> RELATED STORY: Simone Biles thanks fans for support after withdrawing from 2 Olympic events
US women compete in gymnastics team final Simone Biles, of the United States, performs on the vault during the artistic gymnastics women's final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
US women compete in gymnastics team final Simone Biles, of the United States, performs on the vault during the artistic gymnastics women's final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
US women compete in gymnastics team final Grace McCallum, of the United States, performs on the vault during the artistic gymnastics women's final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
US women compete in gymnastics team final Grace McCallum, of the United States, performs on the vault during the artistic gymnastics women's final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
US women compete in gymnastics team final Jordan Chiles, of the United States, performs on the vault during the artistic gymnastics women's final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
US women compete in gymnastics team final Jordan Chiles, of the United States, performs on the vault during the artistic gymnastics women's final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
US women compete in gymnastics team final Grace McCallum, of the United States, performs on the balance beam during the artistic gymnastics women's final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. (Morry Gash/AP)
US women compete in gymnastics team final Jordan Chiles, of the United States, celebrates her performance on the uneven bars during the artistic gymnastics women's final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. (Gregory Bull/AP)
US women compete in gymnastics team final Jordan Chiles, of the United States, prepares to perform on the balance beam during the artistic gymnastics women's final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. (Ashley Landis/AP)
US women compete in gymnastics team final Sunisa Lee, of the United States, performs on the balance beam during the artistic gymnastics women's final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. (Ashley Landis/AP)
US women compete in gymnastics team final Jordan Chiles, of the United States, performs on the balance beam during the artistic gymnastics women's final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. (Morry Gash/AP)
US women compete in gymnastics team final Sunisa Lee, of the United States, performs on the uneven bars during the artistic gymnastics women's final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. (Morry Gash/AP)
US women compete in gymnastics team final Sunisa Lee, of the United States, performs on the balance beam during the artistic gymnastics women's final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. (Morry Gash/AP)
US women compete in gymnastics team final Sunisa Lee, of the United States, performs on the balance beam during the artistic gymnastics women's final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. (Morry Gash/AP)
US women compete in gymnastics team final Grace McCallum, of the United States, performs on the floor during the artistic gymnastics women's final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. (Natacha Pisarenko/AP)
US women compete in gymnastics team final Sunisa Lee, of the United States, performs on the balance beam during the artistic gymnastics women's final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. (Ashley Landis/AP)
US women compete in gymnastics team final Jordan Chiles, of the United States, dismounts from the balance beam during the artistic gymnastics women's final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. (Ashley Landis/AP)
US women compete in gymnastics team final Sunisa Lee, of the United States, performs on the balance beam during the artistic gymnastics women's final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. (Ashley Landis/AP)
US women compete in gymnastics team final Grace McCallum, of the United States, performs on the uneven bars during the artistic gymnastics women's final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. (Morry Gash/AP)
US women compete in gymnastics team final Grace McCallum, of the United States, performs on the floor during the artistic gymnastics women's final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. (Natacha Pisarenko/AP)
US women compete in gymnastics team final Jordan Chiles, of the United States, performs on the floor during the artistic gymnastics women's final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. (Morry Gash/AP)
US women compete in gymnastics team final Simone Biles, of the United States, lands from the vault during the artistic gymnastics women's final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. (Gregory Bull/AP)
US women compete in gymnastics team final Jordan Chiles, of the United States, performs on the balance beam during the artistic gymnastics women's final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. (Morry Gash/AP)
US women compete in gymnastics team final Grace McCallum, of the United States, performs on the floor during the artistic gymnastics women's final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. (Morry Gash/AP)
US women compete in gymnastics team final Jordan Chiles, of the United States, celebrates her performance on the uneven bars during the artistic gymnastics women's final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. (Ashley Landis/AP)
US women compete in gymnastics team final Jordan Chiles, of the United States, performs on the floor during the artistic gymnastics women's final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. (Morry Gash/AP)
The “twisties” happen to gymnasts when they are in the middle of their routine or even in the middle of a skill. Something causes them to lose awareness of where they are in the skill, and in their relation to the ground.
Retired gymnast Aly Raisman, who was a teammate of Biles’ at the 2016 Olympics, said that she believed that it may have been a case of the “twisties” when Biles left the competition.
“If she did get lost in the air, I do want to say that that is actually very common, because she’s doing such difficult skills and she can twist so much more than the average person,” Raisman told TODAY on Tuesday. “She’s human. Sometimes it happens, when you’re in the air, and we just kind of get confused.”
>> RELATED STORY: Who is Sunisa Lee, gold medalist in Olympic gymnastics all-around?
Photos: Sunisa Lee wins gold in Olympic gymnastics all-around Sunisa Lee, of United States, reacts as she poses for a picture after winning the gold medal in the artistic gymnastics women's all-around final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 29, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Photos: Sunisa Lee wins gold in Olympic gymnastics all-around Gold medalist Sunisa Lee of the United States displays her medal for the artistic gymnastics women's all-around at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 29, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Photos: Sunisa Lee wins gold in Olympic gymnastics all-around From left to right, silver medallist Brazil's Rebeca Andrade, Gold medallist Sunisa Lee of the Unites States, and bronze medallist Angelina Melnikova, of the Russian Olympic Committee, celebrate during the medal ceremony for the artistic gymnastics women's all-around at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 29, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Photos: Sunisa Lee wins gold in Olympic gymnastics all-around Sunisa Lee, of the United States, embraces teammate Jade Carey after winning the gold medal in the artistic gymnastics women's all-around final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 29, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Photos: Sunisa Lee wins gold in Olympic gymnastics all-around From left, United States gymnast Grace McCallum, Jordan Chiles, Simone Biles and MyKayla Skinner stands for their national anthem as teammate Sunisa Lee receives the gold medal for the artistic gymnastics women's all-around at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 29, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Photos: Sunisa Lee wins gold in Olympic gymnastics all-around Sunisa Lee, of the United States, performs on the floor during the artistic gymnastics women's all-around final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 29, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Photos: Sunisa Lee wins gold in Olympic gymnastics all-around Sunisa Lee, of the United States, performs on the balance beam during the artistic gymnastics women's all-around final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 29, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Photos: Sunisa Lee wins gold in Olympic gymnastics all-around Sunisa Lee, of the United States, embraces her coach Jess Graba after performing on the uneven bars during the artistic gymnastics women's all-around final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 29, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Photos: Sunisa Lee wins gold in Olympic gymnastics all-around Sunisa Lee, of the United States, finishes on the uneven bars during the artistic gymnastics women's all-around final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 29, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Photos: Sunisa Lee wins gold in Olympic gymnastics all-around Sunisa Lee, of the United States, performs on the vault during the artistic gymnastics women's all-around final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 29, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Former elite U.S. gymnast Ariana Guerra told The Washington Post that she had dealt with the “twisties” multiple times during her career.
Guerra explained that once during her career she was so debilitated by the phenomenon that she could not perform the simplest of skills. She said she would end her practice sessions by doing backward somersaults to try to regain her sense of positioning during complex skills.
“That’s how mental it was,” Guerra said.
>> RELATED STORY: Who is Jade Carey, gymnast replacing Simone Biles in Olympic all-around?
Photos: Sunisa Lee, Jade Carey compete in Olympic gymnastics all-around Sunisa Lee, of the United States, right, embraces teammate Jade Carey after her performance on the uneven bars during the artistic gymnastics women's all-around final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 29, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Photos: Sunisa Lee, Jade Carey compete in Olympic gymnastics all-around Sunisa Lee of Team United States competes on balance beam during the Women's All-Around Final on day six of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Gymnastics Centre on July 29, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Photos: Sunisa Lee, Jade Carey compete in Olympic gymnastics all-around Jade Carey, of the United States, performs on the balance beam during the artistic gymnastics women's all-around final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 29, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Photos: Sunisa Lee, Jade Carey compete in Olympic gymnastics all-around Sunisa Lee, of the United States, performs on the uneven bars during the artistic gymnastics women's all-around final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 29, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Photos: Sunisa Lee, Jade Carey compete in Olympic gymnastics all-around Jade Carey, of the United States, performs on the uneven bars during the artistic gymnastics women's all-around final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 29, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Photos: Sunisa Lee, Jade Carey compete in Olympic gymnastics all-around Sunisa Lee, of the United States, performs on the vault during the artistic gymnastics women's all-around final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 29, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Photos: Sunisa Lee, Jade Carey compete in Olympic gymnastics all-around Sunisa Lee, of the United States, performs on the vault during the artistic gymnastics women's all-around final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 29, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Photos: Sunisa Lee, Jade Carey compete in Olympic gymnastics all-around Jade Carey, of the United States, performs on the vault during the artistic gymnastics women's all-around final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 29, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Photos: Sunisa Lee, Jade Carey compete in Olympic gymnastics all-around Jade Carey, of the United States, performs on the vault during the artistic gymnastics women's all-around final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 29, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Photos: Sunisa Lee, Jade Carey compete in Olympic gymnastics all-around From front left, United States gymnast Grace McCallum, Jordan Chiles, Simone Biles and MyKayla Skinner sit on the stands during the artistic gymnastics women's all-around final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 29, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Photos: Sunisa Lee, Jade Carey compete in Olympic gymnastics all-around Sunisa Lee, of the United States, performs on the balance beam during the artistic gymnastics women's all-around final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 29, 2021, in Tokyo. (Morry Gash/AP)
Photos: Sunisa Lee, Jade Carey compete in Olympic gymnastics all-around Sunisa Lee, of the United States, performs on the balance beam during the artistic gymnastics women's all-around final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 29, 2021, in Tokyo. (Gregory Bull/AP)
Photos: Sunisa Lee, Jade Carey compete in Olympic gymnastics all-around Sunisa Lee, of the United States, reacts after getting her score on the floor performs on the during the artistic gymnastics women's all-around final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 29, 2021, in Tokyo. (Morry Gash/AP)
Photos: Sunisa Lee, Jade Carey compete in Olympic gymnastics all-around Sunisa Lee, of the United States, performs on the balance beam during the artistic gymnastics women's all-around final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 29, 2021, in Tokyo. (Natacha Pisarenko/AP)
Photos: Sunisa Lee, Jade Carey compete in Olympic gymnastics all-around Sunisa Lee, of the United States, performs on the floor during the artistic gymnastics women's all-around final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 29, 2021, in Tokyo. (Natacha Pisarenko/AP)
Photos: Sunisa Lee, Jade Carey compete in Olympic gymnastics all-around Jade Carey, of the United States, performs on the balance beam during the artistic gymnastics women's all-around final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 29, 2021, in Tokyo. (Gregory Bull/AP)
Photos: Sunisa Lee, Jade Carey compete in Olympic gymnastics all-around Jade Carey, of the United States, falls off the balance beam during the artistic gymnastics women's all-around final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 29, 2021, in Tokyo. (Ashley Landis/AP)
Photos: Sunisa Lee, Jade Carey compete in Olympic gymnastics all-around Sunisa Lee, of the United States, stands with teammate Jade Carey after the former won the gold medal in the artistic gymnastics women's all-around at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 29, 2021, in Tokyo. (Gregory Bull/AP)
Photos: Sunisa Lee, Jade Carey compete in Olympic gymnastics all-around Jade Carey, of the United States, performs on the floor during the artistic gymnastics women's all-around final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 29, 2021, in Tokyo. (Ashley Landis/AP)
Photos: Sunisa Lee, Jade Carey compete in Olympic gymnastics all-around Jade Carey, of the United States, performs on the balance beam during the artistic gymnastics women's all-around final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 29, 2021, in Tokyo. (Morry Gash/AP)
Former gymnast Dominique Moceanu, 39, tweeted a video on Wednesday of herself slipping and landing on her head on the balance beam when she was competing in the Atlanta Olympic games. Moceanu, who was part of the U.S. team that won the gold medal in 1996, said, “In our sport, we essentially dive into a pool (with) no water. When you lose your ability to find the ground — which appears to be part of @Simone_Biles decision — the consequences can be catastrophic. She made the right decision for the team & herself.”
What are “the twisties”?
Jamie Shapiro, a certified mental performance coach who is the co-director of the Masters in Sport and Performance Psychology program at the University of Denver, told Health.com that getting the “twisties” means that there is a disconnect between the brain and body
“The body knows what to do and motor programs are stored in the brain, but the brain is having trouble accessing those motor programs,” she explains.
>> RELATED STORY: Simone Biles withdraws from individual all-around competition at Tokyo Olympics
Photos: Jade Carey to replace Simone Biles in Olympic gymnastics individual all-around Jade Carey of United States of America during women's qualification for the Artistic Gymnastics final at the Olympics at Ariake Gymnastics Centre, Tokyo, Japan on July 25, 2021. (Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Photos: Jade Carey to replace Simone Biles in Olympic gymnastics individual all-around Jade Carey, of the United States, performs on the balance beam during the women's artistic gymnastic qualifications at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Photos: Jade Carey to replace Simone Biles in Olympic gymnastics individual all-around Jade Carey of Team United States competes on vault during Women's Qualification on day two of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Gymnastics Centre on July 25, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
Photos: Jade Carey to replace Simone Biles in Olympic gymnastics individual all-around Jade Carey, of the United States, performs on the vault during the women's artistic gymnastic qualifications at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Photos: Jade Carey to replace Simone Biles in Olympic gymnastics individual all-around USA's Jade Carey competes in the floor event of the artistic gymnastic women's qualification during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre in Tokyo on July 25, 2021. (LIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP via Getty Images)
Photos: Jade Carey to replace Simone Biles in Olympic gymnastics individual all-around Jade Carey of Team United States competes in the floor exercise during Women's Qualification on day two of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Gymnastics Centre on July 25, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Photos: Jade Carey to replace Simone Biles in Olympic gymnastics individual all-around Jade Carey of Team United States competes on uneven bars during Women's Qualification on day two of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Gymnastics Centre on July 25, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
Photos: Jade Carey to replace Simone Biles in Olympic gymnastics individual all-around Simone Biles, Grace McCallum and Jade Carey of Team United States look on during Women's Qualification on day two of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Gymnastics Centre on July 25, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Photos: Jade Carey to replace Simone Biles in Olympic gymnastics individual all-around Grace McCullum, Sunisa Lee, Jordan Chiles, Simone Biles, MyKayla Skinner and Jade Carey of Team USA wave as they line up ahead of their floor routines on day two of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Gymnastics Centre on July 25, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
Photos: Jade Carey to replace Simone Biles in Olympic gymnastics individual all-around US gymnasts (fromL) Mykayla Skinner, Sunisa Lee, Simone Biles, Jordan Chiles, Grace McCallum and Jade Carey pose with team members after a training session at the Ariake Gymnastics Centre in Tokyo, on July 22, 2021, a few days prior to the beginning of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic games. (LOIC VENANCE/AFP via Getty Images)
According to Shapiro, they can cause an athlete to not only lose the sense of where they are in the air, but also make the person feel “a loss of a sense of control over the movement.”
Biles spoke about the need to be completely focused on the skill you are performing at the time.
“You have to be there 100% or 120%, because if you’re not the slightest bit, you can get hurt,” Biles said.
>> RELATED STORY: Simone Biles pulls out of women’s gymnastics team final, US takes silver
Biles has not said whether she will compete in next week’s individual gymnastics competition at the Olympics. Biles said she would take it day-by-day to determine whether she will compete.
Photos: Simone Biles, US women's gymnastics team compete in qualifying round Simone Biles, of the United States, performs on the balance beam during the women's artistic gymnastic qualifications at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Photos: Simone Biles, US women's gymnastics team compete in qualifying round Simone Biles, of United States, performs her floor exercise routine during the women's artistic gymnastic qualifications at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Photos: Simone Biles, US women's gymnastics team compete in qualifying round Simone Biles, of United States, performs on the uneven bars during women's artistic gymnastic qualifications at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Photos: Simone Biles, US women's gymnastics team compete in qualifying round Sunisa Lee, of the United States, performs on the balance beam during the women's artistic gymnastic qualifications at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Photos: Simone Biles, US women's gymnastics team compete in qualifying round Sunisa Lee, of the United States, performs on the uneven bars during the women's artistic gymnastic qualifications at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Photos: Simone Biles, US women's gymnastics team compete in qualifying round Jade Carey, of the United States, performs on the balance beam during the women's artistic gymnastic qualifications at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Photos: Simone Biles, US women's gymnastics team compete in qualifying round Jade Carey, of the United States, performs on the vault during the women's artistic gymnastic qualifications at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Photos: Simone Biles, US women's gymnastics team compete in qualifying round Jordan Chiles, of the United States, performs on the balance beam during the women's artistic gymnastic qualifications at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Photos: Simone Biles, US women's gymnastics team compete in qualifying round Jordan Chiles, of the United States, performs her floor exercise routine during the women's artistic gymnastic qualifications at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Photos: Simone Biles, US women's gymnastics team compete in qualifying round Grace McCallum, of the United States, performs on the uneven bars during the women's artistic gymnastic qualifications at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Photos: Simone Biles, US women's gymnastics team compete in qualifying round Grace McCallum, of the United States, performs on the balance beam during the women's artistic gymnastic qualifications at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Photos: Simone Biles, US women's gymnastics team compete in qualifying round MyKayla Skinner, of the United States, performs on the balance beam during the women's artistic gymnastic qualifications at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Photos: Simone Biles, US women's gymnastics team compete in qualifying round MyKayla Skinner, of United States, performs on the uneven bars during women's artistic gymnastic qualifications at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 25, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)