Simone Biles Stands Up for Teammates Amid MyKayla Skinner Controversy
Simone Biles recently explained her strong support for her teammates during the Paris Olympics.
After winning a silver medal in her final event, Biles celebrated the team’s gold medal victory by posting a photo on Instagram. This post referenced a since-deleted YouTube video by former Olympian MyKayla Skinner, who criticized the current team’s work ethic.
“Besides Simone, I feel like the talent and depth aren’t what they used to be,” Skinner said. “A lot of girls don’t work as hard.”
MyKayla Skinner’s Comments Spark Tension
Despite this, Skinner had shown support for the team on her Instagram Story, posting a photo of the US team with heart emojis. In response, Biles captioned her photo of the team’s gold medal moment, “lack of talent, lazy Olympic champions.”
Biles Speaks Out on Supporting Her Teammates
In an interview with People, Biles explained why she has been vocal about supporting her teammates. “It’s important to teach them to use their voices,” she said. “If not, you’re a voice for the voiceless.”
Biles also expressed pride in her role as a team leader. “I felt it was right to stand up for them because they’re young and haven’t fully found their power yet,” she said.
Following her Instagram post, Biles revealed she was blocked, later clarified by teammate Jordan Chiles as being blocked by Skinner. Chiles posted a photo showing Biles unable to see Skinner’s posts, captioning it: “When she blocks Simone.”
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Skinner responded on Instagram on August 6, asking Biles to end the situation as she received threats against her family. Skinner admitted her comment about work ethic was poorly articulated and apologized. She stated she had publicly and privately apologized, with Biles being the only one to respond positively.
Skinner was surprised to see the issue resurface and expressed heartbreak over Biles’s post fueling negative comments. She asked Biles to ask her followers to stop the attacks.
“You have been a champion for mental health awareness, and many people need your help now,” Skinner said. “Your performance and the team’s performance should be a time to support each other.”
