The following article mentions sexual abuse.
American gymnast Simone Biles absolutely sparkled at the Paris Olympics.
Her comeback in 2024 was nothing short of a triumph.
Throughout the competition, her feud withformer US National Artistic Gymnastics team member MyKayla Skinnerreached fever pitch.
However, one of her biggest messes to date came about after she retired.
Ahead of the 2024 Olympics, Skinner offered her take on the current state of gymnastics.
Her remarks didn’t go over well with a number of people, including Biles.
Here is how Biles and Skinner went from tight-knit teammates to social media foes.
The year prior, Biles took home multiple medals, including silver for her vault performance.
When Skinner joined the team in 2014, she was expected to do well in vault, too.
This would not be the last time she would be up against Biles in this event.
The two gave strong showings, but Biles ultimately pulled ahead thanks to her execution of the Amanar move.
The move contributed to an impressive 15.900, earning Biles the silver medal.
Skinner racked up a score of 15.366, landing in third place.
“I feel awesome,” Skinner said at the time, perthe Arizona Republic.
“I’m really excited.
I just wanted to come and place at least the top three and I did.”
“It actually blows my mind,” she said.
However, she didn’t exactly hide her disappointment with the way things shook out.
“The whole time I was in Rio, I probably cried every single night …
The Olympics should be something so special, but I feel like it was definitely miserable at times.”
Skinner has also implied that the selection process in 2016 was unfair.
Biles earned her first of many medals, including the team’s first-ever gold in vault.
However, she was the only alternate whose online behavior after the trials sparked a whirlwind of controversy.
As reported bySlate, Skinner took out much of her frustration on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Skinner issued an apology.
“I’m so sorry if I offended anyone,” she posted onX.
“I was in the wrong by retweeting that tweet!
I’m so grateful to be part of the team!”
Oh my gosh.'
I felt like I was going to be distracted almost."
She also revealed that Biles had actually advocated for her with their coach Cecile Canqueteau-Landi.
“Simone was talking to Cecile, saying, ‘MyKayla can’t go home.
In the end, Skinner brought home the silver medal, and Biles supported her in this achievement.
“Go @mykaylaskinner2016,” she cheered on her Instagram Story (viaPeople).
“I’m so freaking proud of you.”
Indeed, at that point,it truly seemed that Biles and Skinner had a strong relationship.
However, it wouldn’t be before long that tensions would rise between the two athletes.
“I mean, obviously a lot of girls don’t work as hard.”
She later added, “The girls just don’t have the work ethic.”
Simone Biles, understandably, was not a huge fan of this comment.
Instead, she appeared to interpret them as an attack on her teammates.
Disappointed and frustrated, Biles drafted what appeared to be a strongly-worded clap back.
She then took toThreads, writing, “Not everyone needs a mic and a platform.”
The remarks from MyKayla Skinner were uncalled for,” wrote one fan.
“Mykayla wouldn’t have that silver medal if it wasn’t for Simone,” added another.
However, MyKayla Skinner suggested in her aforementioned YouTube video that SafeSport might hold gymnastics back.
“Like, coaches can’t get on athletes,” she said.
The organization parted ways with the Karolyis after it came out that team physicianDr.
Larry Nassar sexually abused many of the female gymnasts in his charge at the ranch and elsewhere.
Nassar was arrested in 2016.
If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available.
She went on to say that she wasn’t referring to Simone Biles’ teammates.
Instead, she insisted that she was talking about athletes who were a little closer to home.
I’m just saying that it was different," Skinner said.
Skinner trained at Desert Lights Gymnastics in Arizona, whereas Biles trained at the World Champions Centre in Texas.
She also included a few emojis, including the cry-laugh face.
Needless to say, the 11-time Olympic medalist seemed to be amused by this development.
Biles' teammate Jordan Chiles also got in on the drama.
Alongside the snap of the clearly blocked account, Chiles wrote, “When she blocks Simone.”
Skinner has not publicly commented on the blocking.
It feels safe to say that they probably won’t be initiating any friendly chats anytime soon.
Evidently, she found a reason to make an exception.
