The gymnastics elite in the USA are taking sides in the ongoing dispute between Simone Biles and MyKayla Skinner.
Biles, alongside teammates Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, and Jade Carey, showcased their prowess at the artistic gymnastics team finals during the Paris Olympics on Tuesday, seizing victory by a striking margin of nearly five-and-a-half points over Italy.
Following the event, Biles took to Instagram to share a photo of the team, accompanied by a cutting remark – ‘lack of talent, lazy, Olympic champions’ – aimed at a comment made by Skinner prior to the Games in Paris.
In a now-removed YouTube video, Skinner had criticized Biles’ team — which includes Chiles, Lee, Carey, and Hezly Rivera — for allegedly lacking the right level of ‘work ethic.’
Recently, former Team USA gymnast and 2012 gold medalist McKayla Maroney expressed her support for Biles in this feud.
Former Team USA star McKayla Maroney has weighed in, and she’s firmly in Biles’ camp
Simone Biles captioned her celebration post with a veiled shot at a former Team USA member
Maroney joked that she needs to apologize just for sharing a first name with Skinner
‘It doesn’t get more iconic than this,’ Maroney remarked on Instagram in response to Biles’ post. ‘She f’d around n found out fr.’
Maroney then humorously commented about her shared name with Skinner.
‘Feels like I need to apologize just to redeem my first name,’ she quipped.
Skinner, who earned a silver medal on the vault at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, has faced backlash for her remarks regarding her former teammates.
‘Aside from Simone, I believe the talent and depth aren’t what they used to be,’ the 27-year-old stated on YouTube.
‘The girls simply don’t seem to have the same work ethic,’ Skinner remarked while pointing to the US Center for SafeSport, a nonprofit dedicated to curbing sexual and emotional abuse in US Olympic sports.
‘It’s challenging because of SafeSport. Coaches can’t be overly critical of athletes and must watch their words very carefully,’ Skinner added.
‘While this is beneficial, reaching peak performance in gymnastics often requires a certain degree of aggression and intensity,’ she explained.
From left to right, Suni Lee, Simone Biles, Hezly Rivera celebrate after winning the gold medal
McKayla Maroney poses with the gold medal after Day 4 of the 2012 Games
MyKayla Skinner, a member of the 2020 Olympic team, criticized the 2024 team’s work ethic
Following these events, Biles responded to Skinner’s comments, stating on Threads, ‘not everyone requires a microphone and a platform.’
Biles, along with several other gymnasts including Chiles, Lee, and Carey, subsequently blocked Skinner on social media due to her remarks.
Skinner later issued an apology.
‘I want to sincerely apologize to Team USA and our gymnastics community for my comments during my recent YouTube series regarding the Olympic trials. It was never my intention to offend or disrespect any athletes or undermine their hard work,’ Skinner’s July 6 apology stated.
She added, ‘Upon reflection, I was making comparisons between the ‘Marta [Karolyi] era’ and the present era.’
‘I am realizing that I haven’t completely processed the emotional and verbal abuse I experienced under Marta, which may have influenced my hurtful comments. I take full responsibility for my words and deeply apologize.’
Skinner concluded her apology by wishing good luck to the gymnasts in Paris, stating that she would be ‘cheering you all on!’
Both Biles and Skinner previously represented Team USA at various competitions, including the 2020 Olympic Games.
They both earned Olympic medals in Tokyo, even though Biles withdrew from several events due to experiencing the ‘twisties’ — a mental block that causes gymnasts to lose control of their bodies during midair twisting skills.
Now, Biles has claimed her redemption by securing a second team Olympic gold and her fifth overall Olympic gold medal.
Reflecting on her achievement, Biles shared with DailyMail.com that the pressure in Paris felt distinct from previous experiences, but her past experience helped her navigate it successfully.
‘In 2016, everyone expected us to win gold, and we carried that expectation onto the field, which helped us secure victory.
Skinner, who won a silver medal on vault at the 2020 Games in Tokyo after stepping in for Biles, recently criticized the 2024 Olympic gymnastics roster for not having ‘work ethic’
Biles blocked Skinner after her criticisms, despite the gymnast issuing an apology
‘We were a bit younger and less experienced, so the pressure didn’t impact us the same way then. Now, being older and seasoned, we genuinely enjoy what we do.
‘I think it just feels different. While I was surprised by our win, as it was my first gold medal, I also realize the weight of expectation placed upon us this time.
‘Going into the competition, we did what we needed to do, but it carried a unique excitement. We just enjoyed the moment and executed our routines.
Simone concluded: ‘We are delighted and feel honored to represent the US at world events. Achieving that gold medal and fulfilling our goal felt incredible.
‘We all had something to prove after the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, and we successfully did that tonight.
‘This victory means everything. Although we didn’t share our goal with everyone, it was personal for us. For all of us, this was what we aimed for, and we’re thrilled to have brought home the gold.’
