The world of gymnastics were in for a shock following the 2024 Women’s Final in Paris. On Tuesday, July 28, Simone Biles led her team to a gold medal victory, marking a triumphant return after her withdrawal from most of the 2020 competitions due to the “twisties.” However, the celebration was short-lived with tension between Biles and her former teammate, MyKayla Skinner.
The friction between Biles and Skinner traces back to earlier this month during the Gymnastics US Olympic Team Trials in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Skinner posted a video on YouTube, which she later deleted, criticizing the current generation of gymnasts. “Besides Simone, I feel like the talent and the depth isn’t what it used to be,” Skinner stated. “I just noticed, obviously, a lot of girls don’t work as hard. The girls don’t have the work ethic.”
Skinner also commented on the shift in coaching styles, saying, “Coaches can’t get on athletes which in some ways is really good but at the same time, to get to where you need to be in gymnastics you do have to be… a little aggressive, a little intense.”
Advertisement
Biles responded to these remarks through Instagram Threads, writing, “Not everyone needs a mic and a platform.” Jordan Chiles’ mother also expressed her disapproval on X, formerly known as Twitter, noting, “Whoa. She really said that out loud and posted it. That’s something….”
In the wake of the backlash, Skinner issued an apology via Instagram Story, stating that her comments were based on personal experiences and were not intended to offend the 2024 team. “Sorry for anything that got out of context or seemed hurtful,” she said. She emphasized her support for the team, expressing her happiness for their achievements.
Despite the apology, Biles’ Instagram post celebrating the team’s Olympic win appeared to subtly reference Skinner’s comments. “Lack of talent, lazy, olympic champions,” the caption read, prompting fans to acknowledge the apparent dig at Skinner. McKayla Maroney even chimed in with a comment jokingly apologizing for sharing the same name as Skinner.
Skinner did not publicly respond to Biles’ post, but the tension escalated when Biles posted on X, “oops I’ve been blocked.” Speculation that Skinner was behind the block was seemingly confirmed by Chiles, who shared a photo on her Instagram Story showing Biles’ phone unable to access Skinner’s posts. Chiles captioned it: “When she blocks Simone.”
As the gymnastics world processes the drama, the focus remains on the remarkable achievements of Biles and her team. Despite the personal conflicts, their gold medal win stands as a testament to their dedication and talent.