Simone Biles won’t stand for anyone who disdains USA Gymnastics – whether it’s somersault, vault or handspring.
Even if they are former teammates!
2020 Olympic silver medalist MyKayla Skinner received some well-deserved criticism over the July 4th weekend after commenting on the poor performance of her team heading to Paris.
This included a not-so-subtle jab from her Simone, who made it clear that not everyone needs to share their opinion.
Simone Biles criticizes MyKayla Skinner for saying gymnastics team isn’t ‘aggressive’ enough
“Not everyone needs a microphone and a platform.”
This is what Simone Biles wrote on Threads on July 3, without any further comment or the removal of any names. But even without her name being called out, it seems clear to anyone who follows the show what Simone is referring to.
Days earlier, MyKayla Skinner, who competed alongside Simone at the 2020 Olympics, criticized the work ethic of the team heading to Paris.
In addition to Simone, gymnasts Suni Lee, Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles and Hazley Rivera will also represent Team USA in Paris.
“With the exception of Simone, I don’t think she has the same talent or depth that she used to have,” MyKayla said in a YouTube video that has since been deleted.
“These girls just don’t have a work ethic,” McKayla continued, before mentioning the U.S. Center for SafeSport, a nonprofit dedicated to helping end abuse in athletics. “It’s also difficult because of safe sports. Like, coaches can’t attack athletes, they have to be very careful about what they say.
“In some ways, that’s really good,” she noted, “but at the same time, in order to get to the level you need to be in gymnastics, I feel like you do have to be a little bit aggressive, a little bit intense.”
Michaela Skinner apologizes
Following Simon’s dig, Mikayla responded to the backlash with a brief video in which she said her comments were misinterpreted.
That apparently wasn’t enough to quell the outcry, so she issued a broader apology on July 7.
“I would like to formally apologize to Team USA and our gymnastics community for comments I made during the recent Gymnastics Olympic Trials streamed on YouTube,” she wrote on Instagram. “It was not my intention to offend or disrespect any athlete or take away their The hard work has paid off and I congratulate each and every one of you.
To further explain her comments, she added that she was also still coming to terms with the “emotional and verbal abuse” she suffered while training under former national team coordinator Márta Károlyi.
“On reflection, I have compared the ‘Marta era’ to the current era. I acknowledge that I have not yet fully processed the emotional and verbal abuse I suffered under Marta’s leadership, which may have contributed to my hurtful comments. I take full responsibility for what I said and apologize deeply.
So far, Simone hasn’t responded to Michaela’s apology — but maybe she doesn’t need to? After all, she had a lot to focus on right now.