Using IFS in the World of Gymnastics

Simone Biles, with her remarkable achievements and status as the greatest gymnast of all time, has captivated the world with her athletic prowess. Yet, her decision to withdraw from the Tokyo 2021 Olympics due to mental health struggles illuminated a side of elite sports that often remains hidden—the emotional and psychological challenges athletes face.

In this article, I explore Simone Biles’ journey through the lens of Internal Family Systems (IFS), focusing on how trauma influences mental health and performance. By examining her courageous step toward self-compassion, much like elite athletes such as Caeleb Dressel, we’ll gain insight into how mental well-being directly impacts resilience and success. Rather than viewing resilience as simply pushing through adversity, this article highlights how becoming Self-led in the face of inner conflict and emotional wounds offers a transformative approach to both mental health and athletic performance.

Inner Demons

During the Tokyo Olympics, Biles spoke about “fighting demons,” a phrase that resonates deeply with the idea of being parts-led in IFS therapy. The twisties—a mental disconnect between her mind and body—became a powerful symbol of her internal battle. As an elite athlete, Biles was expected to push through mental and physical obstacles, but she courageously stepped back to honor her internal signals.

In IFS, these “demons” are understood as protective parts of the psyche, often formed in response to trauma. For Simone Biles, her childhood experiences in foster care, her later adoption, and the trauma of sexual abuse by Larry Nassar likely resulted in the development of many protective parts, each designed to help her survive and excel in the high-pressure world of elite gymnastics.

These parts, often very young in themselves, took on the role of keeping her functioning at her best. In many ways, they contributed to her extraordinary success, but over time, their burden became heavier. The twisties were a manifestation of this conflict—where the protective parts tried to shield her from further harm, even at the cost of her performance. The disconnection between her body and mind, characteristic of the twisties, reflects dissociation—a common protective response in trauma survivors. Disassociation is like a double edged sword - this response can help athletes endure high levels of pain and distress but it also prevents them from executing movements that require mind-body synergy, or in the case of many sports, following a game plan that demands conscious body awareness. This protective mechanism, meant to keep her safe, inadvertently became a barrier to her performance.

The Role of IFS in Healing Trauma and Becoming Self-Led

Much like Caeleb Dressel’s experience with his inner critic, Biles’ journey can be understood through the IFS lens of self-leadership and healing. IFS suggests that we all have exiled parts, often carrying the burdens accumulated across the lifespan through traumatic and challenging experiences of pain, fear, or shame. These parts become locked away, while manager parts (such as perfectionism or self-criticism) and firefighter parts (such as binge eating or dissociation) take control to prevent these vulnerable exiles from resurfacing.

For Biles, over-exercising, compartmentalising her emotions, and projecting strength were examples of protective parts that were trying to help her manage overwhelming feelings. These parts worked to shield her from deeper emotional pain by driving her to push through distress, masking vulnerability, and presenting a façade of resilience to the world. While these strategies may have helped her achieve incredible success as an elite athlete, they were also preventing her from addressing the emotional burdens and trauma she carried.

Self-Compassion: The New Strength

What makes Biles’ story so transformative is the way she reframed strength—not as the ability to push through pain, but as the courage to stop and heal. A significant part of this transformation came through therapy, where she worked through the guilt she felt, realizing that stepping back was not failing herself or her team. Instead, it was an act of self-compassion. Therapy helped her recognize the emotional weight she had been carrying and allowed her to process the trauma from both her past and her athletic experiences. This mirrors Dressel’s realization that being kinder to himself wouldn’t diminish his performance but enhance it.

Through this process, Biles also developed better self-awareness and mindfulness, learning to recognize her mental and emotional limits before they reached a breaking point. She became more attuned to her internal state, practicing mindfulness and regularly checking in with how she felt mentally and emotionally. This awareness allowed her to set boundaries and make decisions that supported her mental health.

Additionally, setting boundaries was one of her most courageous acts—stepping back from the Tokyo Olympics despite immense external pressure. This decision marked a pivotal moment in her journey, as she prioritised her mental health over competition, showing immense self-compassion. By stepping back, Biles acknowledged her limits and protected herself from further harm, both mentally and physically.

Furthermore, Biles relied on a strong support system of family, friends, and teammates who helped her stay grounded and encouraged her to prioritise her well-being. This support network played a crucial role in helping her navigate the intense pressure of elite gymnastics.

These steps echo the flow of the IFS model. IFS teaches that by befriending and understanding these parts, athletes can become Self-led—meaning they act from a place of calm, curiosity, and confidence. For Biles, this meant not only dealing with the external pressure of competition but also addressing the internal pressure from her protector parts. By working through her trauma and re-establishing trust in herself, she transformed her approach, showing that true strength comes from caring for both mind and body.

Trauma Therapy and the Power of IFS for Elite Athletes

The Tokyo Olympics marked a pivotal moment in the conversation around mental health in sports, and Biles became a central figure in this shift. Through her example, she has demonstrated how therapy can help athletes not only manage trauma but also develop a compassionate relationship with themselves, even in the most competitive environments.

By working with a therapist and engaging in her healing process, Biles learned to integrate her exiled parts—those vulnerable and hurt parts of her from years of unresolved trauma. In IFS, this process of integration is what allows athletes to transform from being parts-led—where different aspects of their psyche are in conflict—into being Self-led—where all parts work harmoniously.

For elite athletes facing immense pressure, IFS therapy offers a path to compassion, balance, and empowerment. In Biles’ case, her journey exemplifies how acknowledging trauma, understanding protective parts, and leading with the Self can allow athletes to not only excel but also live more fulfilling lives.