Gymnastics-Biles grateful for support during 'mental health journey'

FILE PHOTO: Gymnastics - 2023 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships - Sportpaleis, Antwerp, Belgium - October 1, 2023 Simone Biles of the U.S. in action during the women's qualification REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo

(Reuters) - American gymnast Simone Biles on Wednesday said she is grateful for the support of fans and family as she dealt with mental health issues that kept her away from competition for two years prior to her triumphant return.

Biles pulled out of multiple events at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 due to the "twisties," a temporary loss of spatial awareness in mid-air. Her withdrawal to focus on her mental health was one of the biggest stories of those Games.