Simone Biles Started the Olympics Team Final with Therapy, Tells Hoda Kotb She Feels ‘More Free’ After Going

Simone Biles is feeling “free” after incorporating therapy into her daily routine.

In a new episode of the Making Space with Hoda Kotb podcast published on Wednesday, July 31, the most decorated U.S. gymnast in Olympic history, 27, opened up about the positive impact the sessions have had on her mental health.

“You don’t bury things anymore. You speak them out loud. You talk about therapy, where you are, where you’re going. Tell me about this part of you,” the Today host, 59, said.

“I’ve always tried to stay authentic to myself, so I feel like the new me, I’m a little bit older, more mature, so just being unapologetically me,” Biles replied.

According to Kotb, sometimes burying things to “appear stronger” can be “the worst idea.”

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“I feel a lot more free, especially going to therapy and doing those sessions so that physically and mentally I feel better, and I know that’s an important part of my routine. So just staying on top of that, it lightens the load a lot,” Biles continued.

Kotb recalled a time when the pro athlete was plagued by the “twisties” — a phenomenon where gymnasts lose their understanding of where they are in the air, putting them at risk of injury when they land.

However, this time around, the Simone Biles Rising subject’s performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics left Kotb saying “Holy moly. This is incredible!”

While the Olympic champ previously mentioned seeking out therapy after her twisties incident at the 2020 Games in Tokyo, Kotb recalled Biles telling her teammates, “I had demons. I need to keep the demons at bay.”

The eight-time Olympic gold medalist credited “therapy” for her growth.

“I think, before, I was pushing down my trauma, and now I’ve learned to speak on it and kind of release that. So that’s really helped me, and that’s why I’m doing what I’m doing today,” Biles said.

“I think we used to think of therapy as a weakness, and now I think of it as a strength. And if there’s somebody that can help me deal with what I’m going through, then that’s what I need to do. And now it’s a daily part of my routine,” she added.

Speaking to reporters, including PEOPLE, during the Paris Olympics on Tuesday, July 30, Biles reflected on her team taking home a gold medal in the women’s team final.

“At the beginning of the day, I started off with therapy this morning, so that was super exciting. I told her I was feeling calm and ready and that’s kind of exactly what happened,” she said. “After I finished vault, I was relieved. I was like, ‘Phew,’ because [there were] no flashbacks or anything.”

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