Simone Biles Subtly Shades MyKayla Skinner’s ‘Work Ethic’ Remarks

Simone Biles seemed to subtly criticize MyKayla Skinner after winning gold with the U.S. women’s gymnastics team at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Biles posted a photo on Instagram on July 30th, holding an American flag with teammates Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey, and Hezly Rivera. Her caption, “Lack of talent, lazy, Olympic champions,” quickly drew attention and sparked comparisons to Skinner’s recent remarks.

Simone Biles’ Clapback

In July, Skinner criticized the 2024 gymnasts, saying they lacked the work ethic and talent of past USA athletes. The comment implied that the current team wasn’t working as hard and didn’t have the necessary talent. The comments were not well-received by fans and athletes alike, and that’s why Biles’ Instagram post was considered to be a direct response to Skinner’s critique.

The post quickly filled with comments, with fans praising Biles. The comments also clearly showed that Biles and her teammates have the public’s support. Skinner had previously spoken about the changes in gymnasts’ training approaches, blaming SafeSport for preventing athletes from experiencing the necessary intensity regulations to reach the highest heights.

Biles and Skinner Were Teammates

She stated that while the changes were beneficial in some ways, they might also prevent success. This sparked even more controversy and led to responses from members of Team USA.  After the backlash, Skinner apologized and claimed she was misunderstood, explaining that her remarks were not specifically about the current USA team but reflected on her own experiences and work ethic compared to the Marta Karolyi era.

Clarifications or not, the incident still fuels discussions about training ethics and the evolution of gymnastics. Biles and Skinner have a history together in the sport, being part of Team USA for the 2016 and 2020 Olympics. Skinner served as an alternate in 2016 when Biles won her first gold medal. In 2020, Skinner replaced Biles in the vault final after Biles withdrew, securing a silver medal. Skinner’s criticisms were certainly proven wrong as Biles and her teammates triumphed in Paris.