Gymnastics might be one of the most graceful Olympic sports, but it’s also one of the most dangerous.
These athletes are jumping and twirling in the air at incredible heights. One false move or a bad landing could lead to grave injury. That’s why Simone Biles was so spooked during the 2021 Tokyo Games when she had a case of the twisties. When you’re in the air that high you have to be absolutely sure of what you’re doing.
That’s why Brazil’s Flavia Saraiva’s performance in Tuesday’s women’s team gymnastics final was so impressive. Flavia fell off the bar during warm-ups and accidentally kneed herself in the face. After being tended to by medics on the scene, she got right back up and hit all of her routines.
She worked through it with a black eye and a bruised face. It was one of the coolest things we’ve seen in these games.
These pictures perfectly capture her resilience. She’s unfazed.
