As Simone Biles sought to regain her gold medal form amid a crisis of confidence last week, she retreated to a Tokyo suburb, where she could practice away from the spotlight.
CNN got an exclusive look at Juntendo University’ gymnastics facilities, where Biles worked to re-learn the basics and prepare for her bronze medal comeback (watch above).
University administrators at Juntendo made their facilities available to the American superstar as she battled “the twisties,” the term used to describe the mental block some gymnasts face when they try to execute their routines. Wataru Kawai, a gymnastic coach at Junetendo, told CNN that Biles seemed to be “suffering.”
Juntendo is outfitted with foam pits and extra soft mats. The Wall Street Journal explains why those accommodations were so important for Biles:
She posted a vivid outtake of a grim crash as she tried, and failed, to twist from the uneven bars. In competition, without the additional mats of the secret practice gym, the consequences could have been grave. But instead of being dangerous, Biles could land on piles of mats or into a large collection of foam cubes to cushion her falls.
“They locked all the entrances for her. No one would catch a glimpse of her as she tried to regain skills that had been hard-wired for her just days earlier,” reports The Journal.
On Wednesday, Biles expressed her gratitude to Junetendo on Twitter. She said the Japanese are among “the sweetest people I’ve ever met.”
I’ll forever be thankful for Junetendo ❤️ for allowing me to come train separately to try to get my skills back. The japanese are some of, if not the sweetest people I’ve ever met. https://t.co/2ZWrItJwAO
— Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) August 4, 2021