MasterClass

Simone Biles Teaches Gymnastics Fundamentals

At 22, Simone Biles is already a legend. With 14 medals, including 10 gold, Simone is the most decorated World Championship American gymnast of all time. Now the Olympic gymnast: part of the gold-medal-winning USA gymnastics \"Final Five\"Ñbreaks down her techniques for vault, uneven bars, balance beam, and floor. Discover how Simone performs under pressure, learn to practice like a champion, and claim your competitive edge.

Where to Watch Simone Biles Teaches Gymnastics Fundamentals

17 Episodes

Introduction
E1
IntroductionMeet your new instructor: four-time Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles. She’s ready to inspire your gymnastics training by demonstrating fundamental and advanced skills and by giving you tips for setting goals and working with coaches.
Learning New Skills
E2
Learning New SkillsDiscipline and focus during practice are necessary for gymnasts to safely execute drills. Simone encourages you to master the basics, which are the foundation for learning harder skills and routines.
Uneven Bars Basics
E3
Uneven Bars BasicsWith eight-year-old Mia demonstrating, Simone walks you through the basics of the uneven bars. Some of the drills include glides, drop kips, tap swings, and floor handstands.
Uneven Bars Advanced
E4
Uneven Bars AdvancedSimone demonstrates and explains advanced skills on the uneven bars, including cast to handstand, giants, and more.
Playback: Studying Simone's Meets On Bars
E5
Playback: Studying Simone's Meets On BarsSimone reviews and deconstructs footage of some of her most notable performances on bars, including her top-scoring routine from the 2018 World Championships and her routine from the 2018 U.S. Classic.
Overcoming Fear
E6
Overcoming FearEven the most decorated World Championship American gymnast of all time can feel nervous. Simone offers tips for getting out of your head during moments of fear and shares what confidence means to her.
Floor Basics
E7
Floor BasicsWith help from nine-year-old Leah, Simone breaks down the basics of floor, including skills like cartwheels, roundoffs, front handsprings, pike fronts, and back handspring back tucks.
Floor Advanced
E8
Floor AdvancedSimone demonstrates advanced floor skills, including layouts, double doubles, a combination pass, and, of course, the Biles.
Competing On Meet Day
E9
Competing On Meet DayIt’s important to give yourself time to prepare for a meet. Simone reveals her preparation routine, shares how to use selective listening during a performance, and tells you how to let go of mistakes while competing.
Balance Beam Basics
E10
Balance Beam BasicsRequiring a combination of acrobatics and dance, the balance beam is as much a mental challenge as it is a physical one. Nine-year-old Paislee demonstrates as Simone discusses skills like handstands, cartwheels, walkovers, and back handsprings.
Balance Beam Advanced
E11
Balance Beam AdvancedSimone demonstrates advanced skills on the balance beam, including a front handspring, front aerial, handspring layout, split leaps, and a double-double dismount.
Working With Coaches
E12
Working With CoachesAccording to Simone, communication and trust are the two most important pieces of the athlete/coach relationship. In this chapter, she explores how to work effectively and cohesively with your coaches.
Vault Basics
E13
Vault BasicsWith eight-year-old Jurzie demonstrating, Simone walks you through the basics of vault, including feet to seat, high knees, deer runs, sprints, and front handspring flatback.
Vault Advanced
E14
Vault AdvancedSimone loves the feeling of flying she gets when performing the vault. She demonstrates advanced vault skills, including a Yurchenko layout, a Yurchenko full, a Yurchenko 2.5, and a Cheng.
Playback: Studying Simone's Meets on Vaults
E15
Playback: Studying Simone's Meets on VaultsSimone reviews footage of her standout vault performances, including her execution of a Cheng at the 2016 P&G Championships. She also breaks down the Biles on vault.
Setting Goals
E16
Setting GoalsGoals are action plans for a gymnast. Simone explains the importance of journaling as well as the practice of setting daily intentions to get the most out of your training.
Maturing as a Gymnast
E17
Maturing as a GymnastSimone closes with thoughts on what taking a break from her sport meant to her as both a maturing athlete and a young adult. She encourages gymnasts to lean on their family for support.