Simone Biles

The president will present the nation's highest civilian honor to 17 people, who also include Oscar-winning Denzel Washington, the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs and soccer Olympian Megan Rapinoe.

The two groups and their insurers agreed to a monetary payout and reforms to prevent future abuse in a major settlement with hundreds of gymnasts abused by the former U.S. team doctor

Biles shocked the world when she withdrew from events at the Olympics this summer, citing a phenomenon called the "twisties." In an interview Thursday, she says she's still grappling with it.

"It was too much," Biles said of enduring years of media coverage of disgraced former team doctor Larry Nassar. "But I was not going to let him take something I've worked for since I was 6 years old."

FBI Director Christopher Wray told the gymnasts, who had testified at a Senate Judiciary hearing, he was "deeply and profoundly sorry that so many people let you down over and over again."

The Senate Judiciary Committee hearing this week follows a watchdog report that detailed "numerous and fundamental errors" of the FBI's handling of the Nassar case.

Biles looked happy and relieved after dismounting the balance beam, smiling and waving at the crowd to roaring applause. She's still experiencing the "twisties" but has found ways to cope.

"We are so excited to confirm that you will see two U.S. athletes in the balance beam final tomorrow - Suni Lee AND Simone Biles!!" USA Gymnastics said. Biles has withdrawn from other events.

Gymnastics prizes physical and mental perfection — which can lead athletes to push themselves beyond their capacities.

When Simone Biles withdrew during the women's gymnastics team final following her vault on Sunday, she said she wasn't physically injured but suffered from a phenomenon called "the twisties."