Team USA Olympic Gold: Having already won eight Olympic medals, Biles celebrated the team’s victory on Tuesday, July 30 at the Games by posting multiple pictures of Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey, and Hezly Rivera on Instagram.
With the message, “an absence of talent, lazy, Olympic champions 🇺🇸,” Biles appeared to be teasing 2020 Olympic vault silver medallist Skinner, who had attacked the group in a since-deleted YouTube video, without Biles.
“Aside from Simone, I think the ability and the depth just is not like what it once was,” the 27-year-old Skinner stated following the announcement of the team competing in the Games last month.
“Notice that a lot of girls obviously do not work as hard. According to a video clip that was posted on X (previously known as Twitter), the girl continued, “The girls just do not have the work ethic.”
At the time, she stated, “Coaches can not get on athletes, and they have to be really careful what they say,” citing the mandated abuse awareness training program SafeSport as one of the reasons the work ethic has altered.
When people asked Skinner for comment on Wednesday, July 31, the company did not immediately reply.
The former Olympian has subsequently claimed that her remarks regarding the gymnasts were a “misunderstanding.” On Tuesday, she posted a picture of Team USA’s victory to her Instagram Stories and several red love emojis.
On July 3, Skinner said on her Instagram Stories that “a lot of the stuff” she discussed in the YouTube video “was not always strictly about the current team, as I adore all the girls who created it and I am so proud of them.”
“It was more about returning to my own gym,” Skinner continued. “The work ethic is different now than it was when we were doing gymnastics under [former team coordinator] Márta [Károlyi.” I am not endorsing Márta or suggesting that her actions were admirable; rather, I am merely pointing out that they were unique.”
She later expressed regret for her remarks. “Anyway, I apologise for anything that seemed cruel or out of context. I never meant to do that. And really, I was really excited for the girls during the entire film, and it was a lot of joy to watch the trials and perform a live with everyone.
Through a representative, Skinner sent an additional statement to PEOPLE, stating, “I want to formally apologise to Team USA and our gymnastics society for my comments during my recent Video episodes of the gymnastic Olympic trials.”
“I did not mean to demean or upset any competitors or minimize their efforts. I want to thank every one of you for your hard labour and dedication,” she said.
“After all, I was drawing comparisons between the ‘Marta Era’ and the present day. I acknowledge that my cruel remarks may have resulted from my failure to adequately address the emotional and verbal abuse that I experienced from Marta. “I sincerely apologize and accept full accountability for what I said,” Skinner continued.
“It is very important to me that my favorite sport continues on its healing path and guarantees an enjoyable atmosphere for everyone,” the athlete continued. I am hoping for the best for you in Paris. I will be here to support everyone! Cheers, USA!
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