At this year’s Olympics, a major storyline has been the ongoing tension between Simone Biles and MyKayla Skinner, sparked by some controversial remarks Skinner made before the Games.
Skinner, who won a silver medal in Tokyo in 2021, recently criticized the current USA women’s gymnastics team and the overall state of the program. Her comments have led to a lot of backlash and even cyberbullying, with threats directed at both her and her family.
In response, Skinner publicly reached out to Biles for support, but Biles has not yet addressed the request. It’s possible that Biles is occupied with celebrating her own success in Paris, where she won multiple medals.
Here’s a breakdown of the situation:
Why Did MyKayla Skinner Ask Simone Biles for Help?
Skinner turned to social media to discuss the intense cyberbullying she and her family have faced since her critical comments about the USA gymnastics team. She revealed that she, her husband, and her daughter have received threats of violence.
In a video posted on Instagram, Skinner expressed her distress over the situation, explaining that the bullying had gotten out of control. She had previously apologized for her comments and reached out individually to the team members, receiving a supportive response from Biles. However, a recent Instagram post by Biles, which included a caption about a lack of talent and laziness, seemed to reignite the controversy.
Skinner was hurt by the implication that she called the team lazy and talentless. She pointed out that Biles’ post, along with others that followed, fueled more hateful comments and threats against her and her loved ones. She asked Biles to help stop the harassment, citing Biles’ own advocacy for mental health as a reason for her to intervene.
Skinner’s comments came to light before the Olympics during a live stream, where she criticized the current team and program, suggesting a decline in talent and work ethic since her own time on the team. Although Skinner apologized and tried to make amends, the damage was done, and the rift remains.
Skinner’s only Olympic appearance was in Tokyo in 2021, where she earned a silver medal on the vault. She was also an alternate for the 2016 Rio Olympics. Skinner competed in the vault final after Biles withdrew due to the “twisties,” and finished behind Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade.
Whether Biles will respond to Skinner’s plea for help remains to be seen. For now, the situation continues to unfold amidst the excitement of the Game.