This will be short because it’s pretty simple.
Gymnastics is not Badminton. Gymnastics is not Beach Volleyball. Gymnastics is not Swimming.
A swimmer can “not be feeling it” and still race: they won’t drown, or risk serious physical injury to themselves. Gymnastics, especially at the Olympic level, is its own animal. Every time an Olympic gymnast goes out to compete they risk paralysis or even death if they fail to accurately land or safely bail out of an element.
So when the greatest Olympic gymnast of all time (and our time!) says she’s not in the headspace to safely perform moves that were thought to be physically impossible a year ago? That only she can do? That only she has ever successfully done?
She knows. You have no idea.
Addendum: if you were wondering who am I to know anything about it?
Below is a picture of me, far left front row witnessing the Yurchenko Double Pike in-person, May 22nd 2021 at the U.S. Classic. I’ve seen vault history being made live, and ended up on NBC’s golden series because of it.
USA Gymnastics pictures used for this post were taken from USAG’s Facebook page.
Word Slurpee 