MyKayla Skinner, a silver medal winner at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, had a lot to say about the current Team USA gymnastics team. And evidently, she stirred up some drama, as four-time gold medal winner Simone Biles responded to the comments.
It all stemmed from a YouTube video that Skinner posted (and has since been deleted), which criticized the current gymnasts, insinuating that not all of the women on the team are deserving of a spot.
"Besides Simone, I feel like the talent and the depth just isn't like what it used to be," Skinner said. "Just notice like, I mean, obviously a lot of girls don't work as hard."
The lists of competitors that will represent Team USA at the Paris Olympics include: Biles, Suni Lee, Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles and Hezly Rivera.
Skinner pictured on far left
The former Team USA gymnast noted that she could be among the ones competing.
"And I think I probably could've made that Olympic team," Skinner said.
Not hard to imagine, she received a lot of backlash for her remarks, as even the superstar gymnast, Biles, had to chime in.
"Not everyone needs a mic and a platform," Biles posted on Threads, shortly after Skinner's comments were aired.
In addition, another former gymnast, Vanessa Atler defended the current Olympic roster.
Vanessa Atler on Mykayla Skinner’s comments: pic.twitter.com/PqM1cfYW8A
— Dr. Starsky (@StarskyGym) July 5, 2024
Atler wrote in a caption on Instagram, "Not as hard working as they used to be?? Are we kidding? We have 4 athletes that were on the last Olympic team. Do you know how difficult it is to make a comeback! These athletes are legends and deservingly so! And one young athlete who has done the work to earn that spot."
Former Team USA gymnast MyKayla Skinner posted a video to her Instagram story apologizing for "anything that got out of context or seemed hurtful" after receiving negative backlash for comments she made while reviewing the Paris 2024 USA squad on YouTube. pic.twitter.com/WqtDuZXln4
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) July 4, 2024
Ultimately, the scrutiny received by fans led Skinner to issuing an apology, as she referenced that her comments were misunderstood.
That is to say, Skinner seemingly backtracked her statements by posting on her Instagram story saying she didn't mean what she said.
"I feel like a lot of you guys had misinterpreted or misunderstood exactly what I was meaning or had said... I love those girls, and I'm seriously so happy for them. I would never do anything to make them feel otherwise. So, sorry if that came out wrong, that was not my intentions at all."
Skinner's true thoughts were already heard, and it actually provoked a reaction from Gina Chiles (the mother of 2020/2024 Olympian Jordan Chiles), as she commented on what was said.
Whoa. She really said that out loud and posted it. That's something....
— Gina Chiles (@gina_chiles) July 4, 2024
Related: Jordan Chiles Almost Quit Gymnastics, Simone Biles Encouraged Her Not To
