When the United States women’s gymnastics team clinched the gold in Paris, Simone Biles wasn’t just celebrating — she was setting the record straight.
Tokyo Olympic gymnast MyKayla Skinner didn’t hold back in a since-deleted video where she criticized the 2024 team’s work ethic, ominously excluding Biles. Ouch!
Unimpressed, Biles took to Instagram, sharing a collage of victorious photos showcasing her and her team with the American flag, and she didn’t mince words: “Lack of talent, lazy, Olympic champions,” she posted, standing proudly with her gold medal.
In an interview with PEOPLE, Biles elaborated on her post, explaining why she felt the need to defend her teammates. “It’s important because you have to teach them to use their voices. And if not, you’re a voice for the voiceless, which is okay,” Biles declared. “I just felt like it was right in that moment to stand up for them, because they’re so young and they haven’t fully stood in their power yet.”
Simone Biles stands at the award ceremony with her gold medal. (Marijan Murat/picture alliance via Getty Images)
For Biles, standing up for her fellow gymnasts wasn’t just an act of solidarity, but a teaching moment for the younger athletes. “For somebody to stand up, I know it meant a lot for [my teammates],” Biles said.
Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles, Simone Biles, Mykayla Skinner and Sunisa Lee, pose following the Women’s competition of the 2021 U.S. Gymnastics Olympic Trials on June 27, 2021 in St Louis, Missouri. (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
However, this social media clash has had a sharper edge than a balancing beam. Skinner, in a heartfelt new video, revealed she thought she had made amends with Biles and was devastated over the drama’s escalation.
She also revealed that she’s been bombarded with death threats, pleading for Biles to intervene. “Simone’s latest post and others that followed it fueled another wave of hateful comments, DMs, articles and emails. Hate that includes death threats to me, my family and even my agent. My family and my friends don’t deserve to be caught in the crossfire here. They’ve done nothing,” Skinner implored.
Skinner continued, addressing Biles directly: “To Simone, I am asking you directly and publicly to please put a stop to this. Please ask your followers to stop. You have been an incredible champion for mental health awareness, and a lot of people need your help now. We’ve been attacked in ways that I’m certain you never intended. Your performance, the team’s performance and the Olympics in general should be a time that we support one another.”
Simone Biles of the United States competes during the women’s floor exercise final of artistic gymnastics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 5, 2024. (Cheng Min/Xinhua via Getty Images)
The Paris games have been a whirlwind for Biles, who walked away with two additional gold medals and a silver, further solidifying her legacy. Yet, this controversy highlights the ongoing challenges off the mat, proving that even world champions face battles that require just as much grace and courage.
