Simone Biles Responds to MyKayla Skinner's Comment with Celebratory Olympic Post

Simone Biles Responds to Former Teammate’s Criticism with Celebratory Post

The Celebration Post

Simone Biles took to Instagram to celebrate her victory with Team USA in the women’s gymnastics team event at the Paris Olympics. Biles shared photos of herself with teammates Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey, and Hezly Rivera, captioning the post with a pointed remark: “lack of talent, lazy, Olympic champions.”

Context of the Comment

This comment appears to be a direct response to criticism from former teammate MyKayla Skinner. In a since-deleted YouTube video, Skinner had expressed doubts about the current Team USA gymnasts' talent and work ethic, excluding Biles from her critique. Skinner had remarked, “Besides Simone, I feel like the talent and the depth just isn’t like what it used to be. A lot of girls don’t work as hard. The girls just don’t have the work ethic.”

Biles’ Further Response

Biles seemingly addressed Skinner’s comments further in a post on Threads, stating, “not everyone needs a mic and a platform.” This suggests Biles believes that not all criticisms are valid or necessary.

Skinner’s Apology

Following backlash from her comments, Skinner posted a video on Instagram Stories, claiming her words had been “misinterpreted or misunderstood.” She apologized, stating, “It was not my intention to offend or disrespect any of the athletes or to take away from their hard work. I take full responsibility for what I said and I deeply apologize.”

Background and Impact

Both Biles and Skinner were part of Team USA at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Skinner retired after winning a silver medal on vault. Biles, with her latest victory, now holds the most Olympic medals of any US gymnast, solidifying her status as the most decorated gymnast of all time. This achievement comes as a significant rebound after her challenges at the Tokyo Games, where she withdrew from several events citing mental health concerns.

Simone Biles’ celebratory post not only marks a significant achievement but also serves as a subtle yet powerful rebuttal to criticisms about the current gymnastics team’s talent and dedication. As Biles continues to break records and set new standards, her response underscores the resilience and unity of Team USA.