Simone Biles hit back at her former United States teammate, MyKayla Skinner, after winning Olympic gold in the women’s gymnastics.
Biles is now the most decorated American gymnast in the history of the Olympic Games with eight medals after she led the United States to a dominant victory in the team gymnastics final on Tuesday.
In the build up to the Olympics in Paris, the United States team, which also included Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles, Sunisa Lee and Hezly Rivera, received criticism from Skinner, who won silver in the vault final in Tokyo in 2021.
‘Besides Simone, I feel like the talent and the depth just isn’t what it used to be,’ Skinner said in a YouTube video.
mean, obviously, a lot of girls don’t work as hard. The girls just don’t have the work ethic.
A lot of girls don’t work as hard. It’s hard too because of SafeSport. 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.’
But Biles appeared to hit back at Skinner’s comments in her celebration post on Instagram after winning her first gold in Paris as she posted a photo of her team with their medals alongside the caption: ‘Lack of talent, lazy, Olympic champions.’
Skinner has since issued an for her comment, claiming that she was comparing the current Olympic team to the 2021 Olympic team she competed with that was guided by the controversial coaching regime of gymnastics coach Marta Karolyi.
‘Upon reflection, I was comparing the ‘Marta Era’ to the current era,’ she posted on Instagram.
‘I am coming to terms that I have not fully dealt with the emotional and verbal abuse I endured under Marta that perhaps led to my hurtful comments. I take full responsibility for what I said and deeply apologise.’
https://www.instagram.com/simonebiles/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=d4372733-2324-4118-86d6-2e915da4dd76&ig_mid=3955FF85-131C-4D3C-A4F1-69469279DA3D
In a separate apology which was issued in a statement, Skinner said: ‘I want to formally apologise to Team USA and to our gymnastic community for my comments during my recent YouTube episodes of the gymnastics Olympic trials.
It was not my intention to offend or disrespect any of the athletes or to take away from their hard work.
‘Your hard work and dedication has paid off and I congratulate each and every one of you
It is most important to me that the sport I love continue down the path of healing and ensures a positive environment for all.
‘I wish you all the very best in Paris. I will be cheering you all on! Go Team USA!’for
