Lack of Olympic experience a boost for Simone Biles

Omnisports

March 30, 2016 9:20 AM

Simone Biles is confident she can handle the pressure of the Olympics and feels she will benefit from "not knowing what to expect".

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Gymnastics superstar Simone Biles believes she could benefit from having no previous experience of the Olympics ahead of this year's Games in Rio.

Biles, 19, is expected to make a significant impression in her first Olympics, having already claimed more world championship medals than any other female gymnast.

The women's all-around world champion for the last three years, Biles knows she will face pressure in her maiden Olympics, but feels a lack of familiarity with the competition may well prove helpful.

Speaking in a conference call ahead of next month's Pacific Rim Championships in Washington, Biles said: "I've never been to the Olympics so I don't know what to expect, so I think that's better for me.

"Just like before my first worlds [in 2013], I didn't know what to expect going in, so that helped me not overthink anything.

"Then for my third worlds I was like, 'oh my goodness', because I knew what it was like. But the Olympics, I don't know what it's like, so I think that's better."

Discussing the high expectation levels, Biles added: "I guess it's pretty easy for me because you can't worry about what everyone else thinks, even though it's hard not to please other people and [remembering] that you come first, so you have to do what you have to do. You always have to focus on yourself first.

"Three or four years ago I was kind of making a name for myself, so I really had nothing to lose, but I had everything to gain. I guess being a three-time world champion, I have stuff to lose if I make mistakes – there's a lot more eyes on me.

"But other than that I don't focus on the stress that everybody else puts on me, because I'm the only one that can control what happens whenever I go out onto the mat.

"It stresses me out thinking about the Olympics whenever it's so far away, so why would you just stress yourself out until it gets here? That's not even good for your body.

"So I always think of what's next to come, because that's the only thing that you can control in that moment. I like to focus on that moment so I can do the best that I can in that moment and then just wait, because anything can happen."

Omnisports

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