• Latest
  • All
Simone Biles: the “twisties” on abortion

Simone Biles: the “twisties” on abortion

August 12, 2021
Jersey’s trans inclusion guidance sparks parental outrage

Jersey’s trans inclusion guidance sparks parental outrage

May 27, 2025
IOF’s joint statement for the 2022 Commission on the Status of Women

Protect and Promote Your National Treasure! IOF’s joint statement for the 2025 International Day of Families

May 15, 2025
Former Louisville University professor wins $1.6 million over dismissal for criticism of transgender treatments for children

Former Louisville University professor wins $1.6 million over dismissal for criticism of transgender treatments for children

April 26, 2025
This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license. Author: Alfredo Borba

Pope Francis passed away at the age of 88

April 21, 2025
Author: Tom Morris

U.K. Supreme Court defines woman based on biological sex

April 16, 2025
New Colorado bill punishes moms and dads for rejecting trans ideology

New Colorado bill punishes moms and dads for rejecting trans ideology

April 5, 2025
Female fencer Stephanie Turner faces penalties for refusal to compete against transgender opponent

Female fencer Stephanie Turner faces penalties for refusal to compete against transgender opponent

April 3, 2025
Georgia Governor to sign Riley Gaines Act of 2025, safeguarding women’s sports from transgender ideology

Georgia Governor to sign Riley Gaines Act of 2025, safeguarding women’s sports from transgender ideology

April 2, 2025
Humanity’s indispensable but unsung heroes

Humanity’s indispensable but unsung heroes

March 18, 2025
AfD politician slams leftist abortion agenda in staunchly pro-life speech

AfD politician slams leftist abortion agenda in staunchly pro-life speech

March 12, 2025
  • About iFamNews
  • Contact

Navigation Button Subscribe

  • Subscribe
May 31, 2025
  • Login
  • Register
No Result
View All Result
  • English
    • Italiano
    • Español
    • Français
    • Deutsch
    • Polski
    • српски
    • Русский
    • Hrvatski

Navigation Button Donate

  • Donate
International Family News Network (IFN)
  • Home
  • Opinion
  • Life
  • Family
  • Culture
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Science
  • Shows
  • Petitions
  • Subscribe
  • Donate
International Family News Network (IFN)
  • Home
  • Opinion
  • Life
  • Family
  • Culture
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Science
  • Shows
  • Petitions
  • Subscribe
  • Donate
No Result
View All Result
International Family News Network (IFN)
No Result
View All Result

Simone Biles: the “twisties” on abortion

Damian Goddard by Damian Goddard
August 12, 2021
in Foreground, Life, Opinion
2.9k
Reading Time: 4 mins read
0
Simone Biles: the “twisties” on abortion
Share on FacebookShare on WhatsAppShare on TelegramShare on TwitterShare on WeChat

In baseball, it’s called the “yips”.

Steve Sax had it. The Dodgers second baseman, one season, simply could not throw the ball to first base. Later, Rick Ankiel and Jarrod Saltalamacchia went next level “yip”.

For the average-joe ball fan, it’s just plain weird. How can athletes–least of all professional ones–just… lose it?

But for the pro athlete whose livelihood depends on sound body and mind, it’s not weird. It’s scary. It’s a real psychological dilemma that has been known to hit athletes of all stripes and colours. All-star hockey goaltenders one day find themselves “fighting the puck”. A basketball player can spin off two defenders and swish 18-foot fadeaways, but then goes Cindy Brady when setting up for a comparatively simply free throw.

Baseball has “yips”. Gymnastics has “twisties”.

And I’ll admit, I was immediately suspicious of Simone Biles’ pulling out of the team competition at the Tokyo Olympics. I had younger sisters do high-level gymnastics. I have a sister-in-law who was an Olympic broadcaster in gymnastics. My wife is a former national team rhythmic gymnast who coaches recreational gymnastics. I’m a former network tv sports broadcaster. But I had never heard of the “twisties” until a couple of weeks ago.

Listen, I’m not here to pile on a culture that seems dead-set on pinning ‘mental health survivor’ badges on lapels. Nor will I ever argue that the “yips” are akin to the Yurchenko double-pike “twisties”. I will, however, underline that pressure to perform can certainly cause stress on one’s mental state. But then heck, that is the very essence of sport, isn’t it?

Biles pulled out of the biggest competition in the world to tend to her “mindfulness“. Okay. Fine. But how about Jordan Chiles’ mindfulness? Imagine the mental gymnastics she had to pull off when one minute she’s a cheerleader, and the next she’s being called on–in a minute’s notice, mind you!–that she’ll have to fill in for the greatest gymnast of all time. On uneven bars and beam. On the biggest stage she’ll ever compete in. And in front of a worldwide audience.

But nary a peep was made by anyone of the heroic mental toughness Chiles displayed (and teammate Sunisa Lee who stepped in for Biles on floor in the team event) in helping the USA earn silver in the team competition.

And how about Chinese diver Quan Hongchan? Lots was made about the gold medallist scoring perfect 10s by all seven judges in her second and fourth dives of the five-round competition. But tell me about this 14-year old’s mental state, climbing up the ladder, walking out on the 10-meter high platform, and processing what a gold medal would mean to her family. Oh, did I mention her family was mired in poverty, surviving on the meagre salary of her orange-farming father?… and that Quan’s mother has been ill for years, following a serious car accident in 2017?

But there’s something worse than fighting the “twisties” or “yips”. And that is supporting objective, intrinsic, moral evil. And Biles backflipped into precisely that, this week.

“I already know this is going to start the biggest argument & may even lose followers BUT I’m very much pro-choice”, boasted Biles in an Instagram post August 10th which has not been deleted. Now that’s conviction.

“Your body, your choice”, she says. That old, worn-out canard.

Biles says she’s Catholic. Biles proclaims prayer is a part of her life. And somewhere deep in her heart, I have to believe that Biles truly is thankful to God for all the blessings that have come her way. Those blessings would include adoptive parents who were actually her biological grandfather and his wife who cared for Simone and her younger sister as foster parents. You see, tragically, mother Nellie was too strung out on drugs and alcohol to care for her own children.

But Simone says her grandparents gave her “a second shot at life”.

The irony.

Nay, the utter tragedy.

Sadly, we simple–and oft-times stupid–human beings take way too much for granted. Watching our kids play at the park. Having a friend over for coffee. Relaxing with a good book. Or just gazing at a magnificent sunset.

But Simone Biles stands as a reminder to all of us–”And unto whomsoever much is given, of him much shall be required: and to whom they have committed much, of him they will demand the more.” And if Simone has even a shred of true Catholicism lurking in that heart of hers, she will wake up to the realization that you cannot serve social media followers. You must serve the God you profess to love and honor. There is simply too much at stake: your soul, and the souls of countless others who see you for the magnificent athletic specimen you are.

The Instagram post should also serve as a reminder to all of us fighting for truth that we must stand strong in the face of rampant Godlessness.

And when you’re down with that, also take a moment to be thankful that one Quan Hongchan wasn’t–like millions upon millions of other Chinese children–an abortion statistic.

Tags: AbortionCatholicChristianityOlympicsprolifeQuan HongchanSimone BilesTokyo 2020
Damian Goddard

Damian Goddard

Damian Goddard is a veteran television, radio, and internet broadcaster who garnered international headlines in May 2011 after taking to Twitter in defence of "the traditional and TRUE meaning of marriage".  Not twenty four hours after delivering the tweet, he was fired from his job as anchor for Rogers Sportsnet; one of Canada's two network sports broadcasters.  Damian's extensive broadcast experience also includes work as a news anchor at Sun News Network, a talkshow host at NewsTalk 1010 CFRB in Toronto, and ample experience in the sports realm working for the CBC, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (lead host at Raptors NBA TV and LeafsTV), and The Fan 590 in Toronto.  A history major with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Western Ontario and a devout Roman Catholic, Damian is passionate about world and cultural affairs, the history and future of the Catholic Church, and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Discussion about this post

Popular News

  • Christian Lawyers request to Justice the withdrawal of a coloring booklet in the city hall of Ciudad Real(Spain)

    Christian Lawyers request to Justice the withdrawal of a coloring booklet in the city hall of Ciudad Real(Spain)

    0 shares 16 VIEWS
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Jersey’s trans inclusion guidance sparks parental outrage

    0 shares 16 VIEWS
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Justice continues with the proceedings against the organizers of the procession of the “Santina Queer” in Gijon after the complaint of Christian Lawyers.

    0 shares 16 VIEWS
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Christian Lawyers takes to court the government’s request for the resignification of the Valley for including parts of the Basilica, such as the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament.

    0 shares 7 VIEWS
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Catalonia: Christian Lawyers, representing the father, appeals Noelia’s euthanasia authorization.

    0 shares 6 VIEWS
    Share 0 Tweet 0

IFN – International Family News Network

© 2022 IFN – International Family News - All Rights Reserved.

Quick Links

  • About iFamNews
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy

Follow Us

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
Subscribe

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Opinion
  • Life
  • Family
  • Culture
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Science
  • Shows
  • Petitions
  • Subscribe
  • Donate

  • en English
  • it Italiano
  • es Español
  • fr Français
  • de Deutsch
  • pl Polski
  • sr српски
  • ru Русский
  • hr Hrvatski
  • Login
  • Sign Up

© 2022 IFN – International Family News - All Rights Reserved.