Simone Biles Rising Docuseries Director, Katie Walsh

00:00 Director Katie Walsh is back to answer your questions about the making of the Simone Biles Rising documentary and talk about what it was like to be on the floor filming during the Paris Olympic Games.

This episode was recorded October 30th in our weekly Behind The Scenes episode where Club Gym Nerd members asked questions live or afterwards on their favorite podcast player. Behind The Scenes is a weekly live Q&A podcast and post-meet live exclusive. It's all part of the bonus content for our Club Members who support our work year around.

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2:07: What went into the decision for the documentary to culminate for team and all-around finals?
3:36: How was Katie able to construct the narrative and build suspense when, spoiler alert, we all know that Simone won the meet
4:48: What petition can I sign to get Netflix to create a spinoff bloopers episode for all of Simone’s funniest moments?
6:15: How the film used social media to bring up conversations around mental health
14:36: What impact did the empty stands of the Tokyo Olympics have on Simone?
17:00: The gender divide that reflects the reality of Simone’s post-Tokyo debacle
18:25: How the film used gymnastics commentators of the past to highlight gymnastics’ creepy culture
20:20: What was it like interacting with other media at the Paris Olympics?
22:35: What does Katie wish people at home watching the documentary could see?
27:32: Why Simone’s security problems got so bad that she couldn’t even go to the cafeteria
29:15: How Simone was able to balance being a normal human being while also being an elite gymnast
34:27: How the entire production team was able to film the meets like ninjas
37:00: How the premiere event was a culminating moment to celebrate Simone and her career
38:44: What secret skills did the crew catch Simone doing?
40:02: What fans can expect next for Katie’s future projects and endeavors
41:00: What Cecile’s Apple Watch tells her during gymnastics meets
43:20: The million-dollar question: do we think Simone will continue to 2028??
47:22: Katie responds to all of our reactions in last week’s episode