Simone Biles hits back at ex-US teammate MyKayla Skinner over Olympic team criticism
Chris Davie's blog was posted on July 31, 2024, at 9:01am and was updated at 9:08am on the same day.
Simone Biles responded to criticism from her ex teammate, MyKayla Skinner, following her victory in the women's gymnastics event at the Olympics.
Biles has become the top American gymnast in Olympic history, winning a total of eight medals as she helped the United States achieve a strong victory in the team gymnastics final on Tuesday.
Leading up to the Olympics in Paris, there was some negative feedback directed towards the United States team, which featured athletes such as Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles, Sunisa Lee, and Hezly Rivera. This criticism came from Skinner, who had previously won a silver medal in the vault final at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
Skinner expressed in a YouTube video that she thinks the talent and the depth of the team has decreased since Simone left.
"I think it's pretty clear that many girls don't put in the same level of effort. They just don't seem to have the same dedication to their work."
Many girls are not putting in the same level of effort. The rules of SafeSport make it difficult for coaches to push their athletes, which can be seen as a positive thing. However, in order to succeed in gymnastics, a certain degree of assertiveness and intensity is necessary.
However, Biles seemed to respond to Skinner's remarks in her post on Instagram after winning her first gold in Paris. She shared a picture of her team wearing their medals and wrote, "No talent, unproductive, Olympic winners."
Skinner has now released a statement in response to her comment, stating that she was drawing a comparison between the current Olympic team and the team she was a part of in 2021. This team was led by gymnastics coach Marta Karolyi, who was known for her controversial coaching methods.
She shared on Instagram that she was thinking about how the 'Marta Era' compared to the present era.
I am starting to realize that I have not fully confronted the emotional and verbal abuse I suffered from Marta, which may have led to my hurtful remarks. I own up to my words and sincerely apologize.
In a different statement, Skinner formally said sorry to Team USA and the gymnastics community for his remarks in his recent YouTube videos of the gymnastics Olympic trials.
I did not mean to upset or show disrespect to any of the athletes, or diminish their efforts.
I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all of you for your perseverance and commitment. It has truly paid off.
What matters to me the most is that my favorite sport keeps moving towards recovery and creates a welcoming atmosphere for everyone.
I hope you have an amazing time in Paris. I will be rooting for all of you! Let's go, Team USA!
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