Simone Biles was struggling with more than just her own inner demons this past week.
Speaking to reporters after returning to the Olympic competition and winning bronze in the beam final on Tuesday, the American gymnastics star revealed her aunt “unexpectedly” died while she was in Tokyo.
That tragedy struck on top of Biles’ struggle with the “twisties”, which forced her to withdraw from the team final and most of her individual events.
Biles’ coach, former French Olympian Cecile Canqueteau-Landi, elaborated on the “week from hell” the athlete had just endured.
“That was another one,” Canqueteau-Landi told People, referring to the death of Biles’ aunt.
“I was like, ‘Oh my god. This week needs to be over. I asked her, ‘What do you need?’ And she said, ‘I’ll just need some time.’ I said, ‘You call me, text me, if you need anything I’ll be here….
