Gymnasts Simone Biles and MyKayla Skinner’s History Explained: From Team USA to Controversy
Simone Biles and MyKayla Skinner had a history long before the retired gymnast’s controversial comments about Team USA’s work ethic.
“Besides Simone, I feel like the talent and the depth just isn’t what it used to be. I mean, obviously, a lot of girls don’t work as hard. The girls just don’t have the work ethic,” Skinner, 27, said in a since-deleted YouTube video late last month. “A lot of girls don’t work as hard.”
Skinner added that the U.S. Center for SafeSport, an independent organization responding “to sexual, physical, and emotional abuse” in the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic movement, makes it harder for coaches to push their athletes to Olympic levels.
“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,” the Olympic silver medalist explained in June.
Skinner since apologized for her statements, saying she had been “misinterpreted” and “misunderstood,” adding that she “wasn’t always necessarily [talking] about the current team.”
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However, her comments prompted responses from several gymnasts who will represent Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics in July, including Biles, who appeared to respond to her former teammate as well.
“Not everyone needs a mic and a platform,” Biles wrote via Threads on Tuesday, July 3.
Biles was one of many gymnasts who testified against Larry Nassar, a USA Gymnastics doctor convicted of first-degree sexual assault. Nassar's scandal, in which over 250 gymnasts accused him of sexual abuse under the guise of medical treatment, led to the U.S. Center for SafeSport being created.
Skinner retired from gymnastics in August 2021 following the Tokyo Olympics, for which she represented Team USA after Biles had to step away due to the “twisties.”
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Keep scrolling to read more about Skinner and Biles’ history:
March 2015
Skinner placed second behind Biles at the 2015 AT&T American Cup, held in Arlington, Texas.
August 2016
Skinner traveled to Rio as an alternate while Biles won her first Olympic gold medals.
July 2019
Skinner returned to elite-level competition for the 2019 U.S. Classic, where she landed the second-highest vault score behind Biles.
August 2019
The gymnasts met again at the 2019 U.S. National Championships, where Biles and Skinner qualified for the U.S. Women’s Senior National Team, per USA Gymnastics.
September 2019
Skinner and Biles traveled to the 2019 World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany, along with teammates Grace McCallum, Sunisa Lee, Jordan Chiles and Jade Carey.
June 2021
Biles, Skinner, McCallum, Carey, Chiles and Lee were all named to the U.S. Olympic Team following their performance at the National Championships.
“WE’RE GOING TO TOKYO??,” Biles wrote via Instagram at the time. “Such a surreal feeling. I can’t believe I made the olympic team for a 2nd time & I’m beyond excited to represent Team USA. So so proud of everyone - this is just the beginning of the journey. thanks for all the endless support & love. I couldn’t ask for better support ??.”
July 2021
Team USA competed at the Olympics in Tokyo, where Skinner took Biles’ place in the vault final when Biles dropped out due to the “twisties,” leading Skinner to take home the silver medal.
However, Skinner, who said the Tokyo Olympics would be her last before retirement, failed to move beyond the qualifying round for the all-around gymnastics final.
Biles went on to share a message of support for her teammate. “So proud of this one,” Biles wrote via her Instagram Story at the time. “No one understands the hard work and dedication it takes to come back from collegiate gymnastics and make an olympic team.”
“You did the damn thing! Thanks for reminding us that grandmas can do it too!” Biles added, joking that she and Skinner were the “oldest” gymnasts at the age of 24. “Thanks for keeping gym light hearted and fun! I love you Ms Olympian.”
Skinner responded to Biles in the comments, writing, “Don’t know what I would do without youuuu!!! Thanks sis.”
July 2024
Biles seemingly responded to controversial comments Skinner had made regarding Team USA and their work ethic. Skinner noted that “besides [Biles]” she felt that the “talent and the depth” of the gymnasts “just isn’t what it used to be.”
Biles seemingly responded via Threads, writing, “Not everyone needs a mic and a platform.”
Skinner later said her comments had been “misinterpreted” and “misunderstood,” adding she “wasn’t always necessarily [talking] about the current team.”
Team USA — including Biles, Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey and Hezly Rivera — took home the gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics on July 30. Following the win, Biles seemingly shaded Skinner in an Instagram caption celebrating the milestone.
“Lack of talent, lazy, olympic champions,” she captioned a photo of Team USA holding an American flag, using similar words to those used by Skinner in her controversial video.
August 2024
Skinner addressed her work ethic comments in an Instagram video, asking Biles to help stop the cyberbullying she and her family have experienced as a result of the drama. “It’s one thing to disagree with me regarding something I have said or a point I was trying to make, but it’s something else entirely when that turns into cyberbullying or even worse,” she stated.
Skinner continued: “Watching people cheer on the bullying — which has led to threats of physical harm to me, my husband and our daughter — is disgusting. So, please, at this point, I’m just asking for it to stop for the sake of my family because enough is enough.”
She also clarified that the “last thing” she wanted her comments to do “was to cause harm or offend our U.S. Olympic team,” adding, “I know these women are incredible — the very best of the best — and almost all of them are my former teammates who I have enjoyed very much cheering on the last few years.”
Addressing Biles directly, Skinner stated: “Please ask your followers to stop. You have been an incredible champion for mental health awareness and a lot of people need your help now. We’ve been attacked in ways that I’m certain you never intended. Your performance, the team’s performance and the Olympics in general should be a time that we support one another.”
