MyKayla Skinner controversy — MyKayla Skinner vs Team USA Controversy explained (Images: All via Getty)

MyKayla Skinner vs Team USA women's gymnastics Olympics team: Complete controversy timeline explained

Modified Jul 31, 2024 07:50 GMT

The MyKayla Skinner vs. USA women's gymnastics Olympics team controversy began when Skinner uploaded a two-hour watch party video on her YouTube channel. In a now-deleted portion of the video, she claimed that the Paris Olympics-bound Team USA doesn't have the same depth and talent as previous Olympic teams.

Skinner also added that apart from Simone Biles, the other team members didn't have a ‘work ethic’.

"Besides Simone, I feel like that the talent and the depth just isn't what it used to be. I just noticed, I mean obviously, a lot of girls don't work as hard and the girls just don't have the work ethic... To get trained to be into gymnastics, you do have to be a little aggressive and a little intense", she said

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The other team members include reigning all-around Olympic champion Suni Lee, reigning floor exercise Olympic champion Jade Carey, and Skinner’s fellow Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Jordan Chiles. It also includes 16-year-old Hezly Rivera, who is a junior all-around champion from 2023.

MyKayla Skinner's remarks didn't go down well with any of the five members of the team, with Simone Biles leading the protest. The seven-time Olympic champion unfollowed the Tokyo Olympic teammate on Instagram, as did the other four members of the team, before writing a cryptic message on Threads, which read:

"not everyone needs a mic and a platform"

Post by @simonebiles

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Biles wasn't the only one taking a dig at Skinner. Several retired American gymnasts, including Kathy Johnson Clarke and Dominique Moceanu, indirectly attacked the 27-year-old for her remarks.

However, when Skinner's remarks went viral, she apologized to the team through a video on her Instagram story, claiming that her words were misinterpreted and that she loved the girls.

"I love these girls, and I'm seriously so happy for them, so I would never do anything to make them feel otherwise, so sorry if that came out wrong; that was not my intentions at all," she said.

Biles and the USA women's gymnastics team later went to the Paris Olympics 2024 eying 'redemption'. They eventually got that, and that too in a dominant manner, posting a score of 171.296 to win the team gold medal. Following their victory, the eight-time Olympic medalist took a subtle dig at MyKayla Skinner despite the Olympic silver medalist's apology earlier. Biles wrote:

"lack of talent, lazy, olympic champions ❤️🥇🇺🇸"

This wasn't the only time MyKayla Skinner came under public scrutiny

MyKayla Skinner delivered exceptional performances at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Trials. However, her name wasn't on the Team USA list that got selected for the Rio Olympics. She was named as an alternate but didn't get to compete later.

In the following days after the announcement of the team, Skinner retweeted a series of controversial and racist posts through her X (then Twitter) handle. Among the retweeted posts was a doctored photo of Gabby Douglas with Skinner’s photo added to it.

The retweets sparked heavy backlash, leading Skinner to delete them and issue an apology.

"I'm so sorry if I offended anyone. I was in the wrong by retweeting that tweet! I'm so grateful to be part of the team! Go USA #Rio", she wrote.

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Skinner was later named in the Team USA for the Tokyo Olympics 2024, where she won a silver medal in the vault competition after Simone Biles withdrew due to Twisties. Interestingly, the same team is headed to the Paris Olympics 2024, except that it's Hezly Rivera instead of Skinner.