Simone Biles and Mykayla Skinner
Getty Images (2)Simone Biles‘ Teammates and former USA Gymnastics athletes are supporting the GOAT after Biles defended the team. Mykayla Skinner.
Biles, 27, appeared to reference Skinner’s frown-worthy comments about the 2024 U.S. gymnastics team as she celebrated her gold medal win. Instagram Tuesday, July 30. “Lack of talent, laziness, Olympic champs ❤️🥇🇺🇸,” Biles captioned several photos of herself and her teammates holding an American flag during the team final. “Lack of talent, laziness, Olympic champs ❤️🥇🇺🇸.” Suni Lee, Jordan Childs, Jade Carey and Hazel Rivera.
The 23-year-old Childs left a message of support for his teammate in the comments section, writing: “And that’s the end of it!!”
Lee, 21, reposted Biles’ upload to her Instagram Story, commenting, “Put your finger down if Simone Biles just finished you off 🖐🏼.” Rivera, 16, wrote, “So proud of you.”
Simone Biles and MyKayla Skinner had a history long before the retired gymnast made controversial comments about Team USA’s work ethic. “With the exception of Simone, I feel like their talent and depth is not what it used to be. Of course, a lot of the girls don’t work hard enough. They just don’t have the ability to work hard. […]
Former Team USA gymnasts added their own thoughts: “MIC DROP.” Nastia Liukin“So proud!!!!!!!!!!” the five-time Olympic medalist commented.
Laurie Hernandez“LMAOOOO I LOVE YALL,” he added, having competed alongside Biles at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Jordan Chiles, Hazel Rivera, Simone Biles, Jade Carey and Sunisa Li celebrate their team’s victory in the women’s artistic gymnastics team final at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics at Bercy Arena in Paris, France, on July 30, 2024.
Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty ImagesOlympic athlete Michelle Kwan Giving Biles the stamp of approval, he wrote, “Four letter word for all the haters – GOAT 🐐!!! Bravo.”
Biles’ husband, Jonathan OwensHe made sure the trolls knew who they were dealing with. “Go around and find out,” he said.
The caption appears to refer to controversial comments Skinner, 27, made ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics. In a YouTube video uploaded earlier this month, Skinner claimed that the gymnasts representing Team USA at this year’s Games do not have the same “work ethic” as those who competed in years past. (Skinner went on to win a silver medal in the vault final at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics after competing as an alternate for Team USA in 2016.)
After backlash online, Skinner took to his Instagram story to apologize, claiming the comments on his YouTube video were “misunderstood.”
The 2024 Summer Olympics may be held in the City of Light, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be a fair amount of darkness. Following a spectacular opening ceremony on Friday, July 26, that drew the ire of some celebrities and religious figures, the Games have been rocked by allegations of sexism. […]
“A lot of what I’ve been talking about hasn’t always been about the current team. I love and support all the girls who lead the team and I’m very proud of them,” she said. “It’s about getting back to my gym and the work ethic is different compared to when we were doing gymnastics. Martha [Karolyi] age.”
Team USA’s Kayla Skinner and Simone Biles pose for a photo during the women’s podium training ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Ariake Gymnastics Center in Tokyo, Japan on July 22, 2021.
Jamie Squire/Getty ImagesKarolyi, 81, was a former USA Gymnastics national team coordinator who enforced strict rules for athletes training at the elite level. The organization cut ties with Marta and her husband. Bella Karoliin the aftermath of Larry Nasar Sexual abuse scandal. (In her first video, Skinner criticized SafeSport, an independent organization that aims to take action against sexual, physical and emotional abuse in the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic sports.)
With Tuesday’s victory, Biles became the most decorated American Olympic gymnast of all time and solidified her comeback after missing the Tokyo Games for mental health reasons. Mackayla MaroneyAthletes who competed in the 2012 London Olympics also came to Biles’ defense after her historic performance.
“It doesn’t get more iconic than this,” she wrote in the comments section of Biles’ post, seemingly slamming Skinner. “She was playing around and found out. I feel like I owe her an apology to get my name back.”
