twisties
Corkscrew-shaped corn puffs
The twisties is a phenomenon where athletes—especially gymnasts and divers—suddenly lose their spatial awareness mid-maneuver, unable to sense their body's position while rotating through the air.
The condition is dangerous because it strikes without warning during complex aerial skills.
The term gained wide recognition when gymnast Simone Biles withdrew from events at the 2020 Olympics citing the twisties: She said she got the twisties and couldn't safely compete.
Thin fried slices
- crispsBritish fried potato slices
- cornCereal grown on cobs
- crunchyBreaking with sound
- cheeseFermented milk solid
puffed · extruded · salty · flavored · tangy · barbecue · chicken · savory
Curve winding around center
Persistent apprehensive distress
- nervesTense apprehension
- pressureForce upon contact
- self-doubtUncertainty about oneself
- chokingBlocked airway condition
freeze · block · hesitation · inhibition · second-guessing · overthinking · putting · golf
Bends in a line
- bendsCurves or yields
- turnsRotations or chances
- windingCurving repeatedly, sinuous
- serpentineCurving in repeated bends
hairpin · switchback · mountain · scenic · driving · cornering · steering · drift
Elevated, or signal-catcher
- tumblingAcrobatic rolling and flipping
- flipQuick turning motion
- rotationTurning on an axis
- acrobaticInvolving spectacular physical feats
midair · layout · pike · tuck · somersault · contortion · flexibility · body
chips
Thin fried slices
cheese · puffed · extruded · salty · flavored · tangy · barbecue · chicken · savory · bitesize
spiral
Curve winding around center
corkscrew · whorl · wind · twine · coil · spring · flex · bend · roll · entwine
anxiety
Persistent apprehensive distress
- nervesTense apprehension
- pressureForce upon contact
- self-doubtUncertainty about oneself
choking · freeze · block · hesitation · inhibition · second-guessing · overthinking · putting · golf · gymnastics
curves
Bends in a line
serpentine · hairpin · switchback · mountain · scenic · driving · cornering · steering · drift · handling
aerial
Elevated, or signal-catcher
acrobatic · midair · layout · pike · tuck · somersault · contortion · flexibility · body · maneuver
- motorcycle touringsaddlebags, panniers, touring bike, adventure bike, windscreen
- lampworkingflamework, lampwork, torch, mandrel, glass beads
- Motorcyclesmotorcycle, motorbike, cruiser, cruisers, sport bike
twistiesflow state
Optimal engagement condition
in the zone · spatial orientation · body control · muscle memory · spatial awareness
twistiesopen road
Unobstructed route ahead
straightaway · straightaways · straights · highway · highways
- twisting someone's armPersuading through pressure
- twisting the knifeIntensifying someone's distress deliberately
- twisting and turningRotating while changing direction
- arm twistingForceful persuasion tactics
- twisting words
- twisting in the windAbandoned to public scrutiny