The Balance by Aimee Boorman

[navyblue]

i'm here waiting for a report on all the cool skills Simone trained and didn't compete...

 

[rlayt]

Wow Marta is even more of a bitch than I thought and I thought she was bad before. All that nagging about Simone’s food and eating habits.

 

[Peridot]

I enjoyed it. A good read, but probably not worth $35.
It would have been nice to get more info on training and coaching details as it felt like a lot of the training and competition was glossed over quite quickly. But I suppose the book would have been a lot longer then.
Overall some good stories and a different perspective to events I’ve read in the gymnasts autobiographies.

 

[QuietColours]

Finally, some progress. It's been in processing for ages!

 

[Doug1233]

AI Prompt: Summarize The Balance by Aimee Boorman in 1000 words. i only want to hear shocking new revelations​

Aimee Boorman’s memoir, The Balance: My Years Coaching Simone Biles, pulls back the curtain on the making of the world’s greatest gymnast-not just with uplifting anecdotes, but with startling, previously undisclosed truths about elite gymnastics, the power struggles behind the scenes, and the psychological toll on athletes. Here are the most shocking new revelations from the book, as supported by recent reviews and reporting:

1. Martha Karolyi Thought Simone Biles Was “Lazy and Undisciplined”

One of the most jaw-dropping disclosures is that Martha Karolyi, the legendary but controversial national team coordinator, repeatedly dismissed Simone Biles as “sloppy and lazy.” Karolyi believed Boorman was too permissive as a coach and accused her of not instilling enough discipline in Biles. These criticisms were not just idle remarks-they seriously undermined Biles’ confidence in her formative years13. Boorman reveals that she often had to stand up to Karolyi, insisting that Biles and other gymnasts needed more rest and downtime, directly contradicting Karolyi’s relentless approach1.

2. Biles Was Allowed to Fail-On Purpose

Boorman describes a pivotal moment before the 2013 U.S. Classic when Biles, feeling out of control of her own training, intentionally fell during routines as an act of rebellion. Rather than punishing her, Boorman allowed Biles to fail in competition, using it as a teaching moment about consequences and self-management. This hands-off, athlete-centered approach was a radical departure from the norm in elite gymnastics, where control and perfectionism usually reign3.

3. The Truth About “The Twisties”-And How Close Biles Came to Quitting

Boorman discloses that Biles had experienced “the twisties”-a terrifying mental block where gymnasts lose their sense of orientation in midair-well before the Tokyo Olympics. In fact, Biles suffered from the twisties before the Rio Games, and Boorman’s response was to immediately remove twisting elements from her routines rather than push her through. This was a direct challenge to the prevailing culture, which often forced athletes to compete through mental and physical distress. Boorman makes clear that Biles’ later decision to withdraw from the Tokyo Olympics was rooted in the self-advocacy and mental health prioritization they developed together years earlier3.

4. The System Was Built to Break Gymnasts-But Boorman Fought Back

Boorman’s book is unflinching about the toxic culture fostered by the Karolyi regime. She describes the environment as “dictatorial,” with little regard for the individuality or well-being of athletes. Boorman admits she was often the lone voice advocating for rest, mental health days, and a more balanced approach, even when it put her at odds with the most powerful figures in the sport14. She recounts how her coaching philosophy-focusing on the athlete’s needs rather than the coach’s ego or the federation’s demands-was seen as subversive.

5. Biles’ Greatness Was Never Inevitable-She Nearly Switched to Track

The narrative that Biles was always destined for greatness is shattered in Boorman’s telling. She reveals that Biles could easily have abandoned gymnastics for track and field if she lost her passion. There was no “aha” moment when Boorman knew Biles would be a superstar; instead, she insists, “When she became one, that’s when I knew.” This underscores how fragile and contingent even the most legendary careers can be3.

6. Boorman’s Own Traumas Shaped Her Coaching-and Nearly Drove Her from the Sport

Boorman bares her soul about her own negative experiences as a young gymnast in the 1980s, describing a coach who destroyed her joy and self-belief. She admits that she only rediscovered her love for gymnastics while teaching preschoolers, which fundamentally changed her approach to coaching. Rather than replicating the harsh methods she endured, Boorman became determined to nurture the “innate light” in her athletes, a philosophy that directly benefited Biles3.

7. The “Good Coach” Myth-And the Cost of Speaking Out

Boorman is candid about the personal and professional risks she took by challenging the system. She acknowledges that she is often lionized as the “good coach,” but reveals that this reputation came at a cost. She sometimes worried that speaking out would make her seem unserious or as if she was trying to take credit for Biles’ success. Boorman waited nearly a decade after Rio, through two Olympic cycles and a global reckoning with abuse in gymnastics, before publishing her story-suggesting that the culture of silence and fear was as pervasive among coaches as athletes1.

8. The Nassar Scandal’s Ripple Effect-and Boorman’s Protective Instincts

The book addresses the Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal and its devastating impact on the sport. Boorman reveals how she worked to shield Biles and other gymnasts from the toxic environment, but also admits that no coach could fully protect their athletes during the Karolyi era. She reflects on the limits of her own power and the guilt that comes with knowing she could not prevent every harm47.

9. Biles’ Mental Health Was Always the Priority-Even When It Meant Losing

Boorman repeatedly supported Biles taking “mental health days,” even if it meant missing practice or risking competitive setbacks. She makes clear that no medal was worth jeopardizing an athlete’s well-being. This philosophy, radical at the time, arguably set the stage for Biles’ historic decision to withdraw from Olympic events in Tokyo, which sparked a global conversation about mental health in sports3.

10. The Athlete, Not the Coach, Is in Control

Perhaps the most revolutionary revelation is Boorman’s insistence that the athlete-not the coach-must be in control of their own journey. She consciously ceded authority to Biles, allowing her to shape her own career and define her own success. This approach, almost unheard of in elite gymnastics, is the “balance” at the heart of the book and the secret to Biles’ longevity and joy in the sport12.

In Summary:
The Balance is not just a memoir-it is a whistleblower’s account, a challenge to the status quo, and a blueprint for a healthier, more humane future in gymnastics. The most shocking revelations are not about medals or routines, but about the battles waged behind the scenes: against abusive power, against a culture of silence, and for the right of every athlete to own their story and safeguard their well-being.

 

[IratePanda]

Best use of AI ever! Thank you.

 

[tempest]

In fact, Biles suffered from the twisties before the Rio Games, and Boorman’s response was to immediately remove twisting elements from her routines rather than push her through.

What did she remove? I can only think of the 2.5 to layout that she had in 13

 

[ArnoldRimmer]

What did she remove? I can only think of the 2.5 to layout that she had in 13

Was she training the double double on bars back then? She only did the full in Rio.

 

[KristyJ]

AI Prompt: Summarize The Balance by Aimee Boorman in 1000 words. i only want to hear shocking new revelations​

As with most AI, that feels 90% correct and just a bit off on some things. The most glaring is that Simone did not "almost become a track athlete;" Boorman states that she could've with her physical talent. Other things are less easily described as lacking accuracy as they could read multiple ways, but I will say, I am glad I read the book in full for the nuance.

 

[MaryClare]

Could she have become a track athlete? Obviously she has exceptional power and acceleration, but which track events have athletes as short as Simone?

 

[irichluck21]

Biles had the double double off beam for Rio and had intended to compete it in beam finals, but the lack of one touch warm up made Simone nervous, so Aimee let Simone decide for herself.

She had trained the Yurchenko Double Pike and the Triple Double on floor, but Aimee had Simone chose what skills she wanted to do leading into Rio and didn't force her into anything.

That what was revealed on Gymcastic.