Simone Biles, the most decorated US gymnast, recently found herself in a social media spat with former Olympic teammate MyKayla Skinner. The drama unfolded after Skinner made disparaging comments about the talent and work ethic of the current US women’s gymnastics team competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
In a now-deleted YouTube video, MyKayla Skinner, who won silver at the 2020 Olympics, criticized Biles and her teammates. “Besides Simone, I feel like the talent and the depth just isn’t like what it used to be,” Skinner said. “Just notice like, I mean, obviously a lot of girls don’t work as hard. The girls just don’t have the work ethic,” she added.
Simone Biles, alongside Suni Lee, Hezly Rivera, Jade Carey, and Jordan Chiles, won gold on Tuesday, July 30. Biles responded to Skinner’s comments with an Instagram post, showcasing photos of the victorious 2024 US women’s gymnastics team. “Lack of talent, lazy, Olympic champions,” she captioned the post, clearly addressing Skinner’s remarks.
Fans rallied behind Biles and her teammates, expressing their support in the comments. Former Olympian McKayla Maroney remarked, “It doesn’t get more iconic than this. She f’ed around and found out fr. Feels like I need to apologize just to redeem my first name.” Another fan praised Biles’ witty response, saying, “This caption wins a gold medal,” while a third added, “Put a finger down if Simone Biles just ended you.”
Following the backlash from her video, MyKayla Skinner issued an apology on Instagram. “It was not my intention to offend or disrespect any of the athletes or to take away from their hard work,” she wrote. However, Skinner turned off comments on her apology post, which may have prompted Biles to make her own statement.
Although Skinner’s apology came before Biles’ gold medal win at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Biles’ decision to respond was seen by many fans as both justified and powerful. The interaction highlighted the intense emotions and competitive spirit inherent in the world of gymnastics, as well as the solidarity and support among Biles’ supporters.
In the aftermath, the gymnastics community continues to buzz with discussions about the exchange. Biles’ triumphant return to the Olympics, coupled with her response to Skinner, underscores her resilience and commitment to excellence. Despite the controversy, Biles remains a symbol of hard work and success, inspiring fans and fellow athletes alike.
