As a huge fan of Simone Biles and her incredible journey in gymnastics, I can’t help but be in awe of her strength, resilience, and determination. Through the documentary “Simone Biles Rising,” we get a unique glimpse into Simone’s world – her motivations, challenges, and triumphs.
In the initial episode of Netflix’s “Simone Biles: Rising,” Simone Biles shares her preparations for the 2023 World Championships.
As a gamer, I prefer focusing on my gameplay and keeping a low profile. I’m still working with my therapist, prioritizing my mental health over media attention. I’ve taken the step of disabling comments on my Instagram account for now, and occasionally delete Twitter from my phone to minimize distractions.
During the same week, Biles achieved history by performing the first Yurchenko double-pike in a competition. This remarkable feat earned her a new skill title. Broadcasters were ecstatic about the significance of Biles’ accomplishment, praising her contributions to gymnastics. However, in the documentary, the 27-year-old Biles makes it clear that she executed this move for her personal satisfaction.
Katie Walsh, director of “Rising: Simone Biles” at Religion of Sports, started collaborating with Simone Biles in 2019 for their initial project – a seven-episode series titled “Simone vs. Herself” on Facebook Watch. After five years, this same team is now responsible for the recently released Netflix series, which premiered Part One on Thursday.
“Five years have been filled with significant experiences for Walsh, as stated. Biles participated in her second Olympics, Tokyo 2021, where she unexpectedly withdrew from most events due to mental obstacles. Following this, she took an extended break from gymnastics, unsure if she would resume competition. In 2023, she declared her intention to compete in Paris 2024, marking her first international event in two years since the Yurchenko double-pike moment. During this period, Biles grew up, married Jonathan Owens, and started constructing a home with him.”
While these events transpired, Walsh’s team remained attentive. According to executive producer Giselle Parets, “The dialogue continued uninterrupted from the initial installment to this one.”
Walsh’s approach hasn’t been about making his subjects uncomfortable, and it would have been acceptable if Biles had never returned. According to him, “our filming style and methodology have evolved in parallel with hers.”
As a woman who has always been captivated by the world of gymnastics and the inspiring stories of its champions, I find the upcoming series “Simone Biles Rising” to be an absolute must-watch. The fact that the title itself is inspired by Maya Angelou’s powerful poem “Still I Rise” and that Viola Davis will be reading it in the trailer only adds to my excitement.
Part One covers Simone Biles’ gymnastics journey from Tokyo up to early 2024, including her time away from and back to the sport. This two-hour series offers insights into both recent and past events in gymnastics, providing context on significant stories like Kerri Strug’s iconic one-leg landing at the 1996 Olympics, the controversy surrounding the Karolyi training camps, Gabby Douglas’ gold medal win in 2012, and the tragic case of Larry Nassar, the former USA Gymnastics doctor now imprisoned for sexually abusing hundreds, including Simone Biles.
Walsh emphasizes the significance of gaining insight into gymnastics culture and previous athletes’ journeys to effectively portray Simone’s unique experience in Netflix’s documentary. She explains, “We already know about the Larry Nassar scandal, but this film focuses solely on Simone’s personal story.”
In Part Two, which is scheduled for release this fall, we’ll see Biles’ experience at the Paris Olympics unfold. Walsh shared insights with The Hollywood Reporter just before her departure for France. She discussed the challenges of overseeing a project with uncertainty about its final outcome.
She smiles, sharing that she has numerous outline drafts. The appearance of the upcoming episodes relative to these outlines remains undetermined.
According to Parets, the unpredictability necessitates our team’s adaptive choreography during planning and reshaping processes, reminiscent of Biles’ autobiographical account. “Our teams are quite compact,” Parets explains. “As a result, we can schedule more shooting days and swiftly travel to film unexpected scenes.”
But that’s what makes these documentaries so delicious, isn’t it? “There’s something mythic about sports,” Gotham Chopra, series ep and co-founder of Religion Of Sports, says. “We’re always trying to figure out, What’s the underlying myth? Can we find something classical, whether it’s from The Iliad or The Odyssey, or even more diverse kind of myths — what is the story really about?”
Walsh explained that Part One focused on understanding Simone’s motivations behind her involvement in gymnastics, her decision to withdraw from the Olympics, and her reasons for returning.
For Biles, another reason might be: Why agree to a documentary? After Tokyo, she’s openly discussed the hidden mental struggles athletes face. According to Walsh, “There’s how the world appears to us externally, and then there’s how Biles internally experiences her surroundings.” She felt it was essential for people to witness more than just her competitive side.
Walsh has been involved with gymnastics since 2007, accumulating extensive knowledge about the sport. According to Chopra, her expertise goes beyond the basics; she is well-versed in the rhythm of the gymnastics season. This insightful understanding enabled Walsh to create a filming schedule that catered to Biles’ needs.
During interviews that touched on delicate subjects like Larry Nassar or mental health, Walsh advises against asking such questions only a week before competition. As a team, we were cautious not only about the content of our questions but also the timing.
The series features more than just Biles’ interviews. It also includes insights from her teammates, coaches, a diverse group of sports reporters and commentators, and Dr. Onnie Willis Rogers, a former gymnast who is now a psychologist. Walsh chose these sources to provide additional context for Biles’ experiences in the sport.
“She shares that for Simone Biles, whether it was experiencing the pressure of the Kerri Strug moment or the achievement of the Gabby Douglas all-around title, understanding her perspective and reactions is essential to truly knowing her.”
In Paris, Biles is about to make her mark once more with Walsh recording every moment. Though most anticipate another victorious performance from the gymnast, Walsh is mindful of the potential risks. However, she remains reassured, stating, “Simone is a composed woman who is clear about her goals and doing this for herself in a way not commonly seen in gymnastics. Winning all the gold medals would be fantastic, but I believe her greatest accomplishment lies in her determination to compete.”
Simone Biles Rising Part One is now streaming on Netflix.
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2024-07-19 17:55