In a video that MyKayla Skinner later deleted, she commented against Team USA before the Olympics, saying that the current talent (referring to Suni Lee) isn’t as strong as it used to be.
The issue is back in the spotlight. After winning another gold medal with Team USA women’s gymnastics, Simone Biles took a dig at Mykayla Skinner.
Highlights
- Mykayla Skinner commented that many athletes weren’t working as hard as they should be.
- Also, she spoke about the SafeSport regulations scandal, which she implied might prevent coaches from being as tough as needed
- She apologized explaining how training has changed since the Marta Karolyi era.
Biles seemed to react personally to Skinner’s remarks. On Instagram, she shared a photo of this year’s Olympic team celebrating their gold medals, with the caption, “lack of talent, lazy, Olympic champions.”
However, Mykayla Skinner, an actress known for her roles in Tokyo 2020: Games of the XXXII Olympiad, has already apologized for her statements in 2021.
Skinner explained that she felt many people had misunderstood her comments.
She clarified that her remarks were not necessarily about the current team, emphasizing that she loves and supports all the girls who made it and is very proud of them.
Mykayla Skinner’s Comment Has Surfaced Again After Simone Biles’s Recent Dig
MyKayla Skinner shared her reaction to the 2024 Olympic team’s announcement during a two-hour YouTube watch party (later deleted).
She noted that the team was largely composed of familiar faces like Suni Lee from 2021 due to injuries affecting top competitors before and during the trials.
“A lot of girls don’t work as hard. It’s hard too because of SafeSport. Coaches can’t get on athletes which in some ways is really good but at the same time, to get to where you need to be in gymnastics you do have to be…a little aggressive, a little intense.”
MyKayla Skinner
Skinner expressed concerns about the current level of talent and work ethics. She suggested that many athletes weren’t working as hard as they should.
She also touched on the SafeSport regulations scandal, which she implied might prevent coaches from being as tough as needed.
Additionally, Skinner mentioned that if she were competing, she felt she could have made the team despite the injuries affecting others.
MyKayla Skinner Apologized Twice For What She Commented
After a few days, On July 3, Skinner apologized on Instagram, explaining how training has changed since the Marta Karolyi era.
She apologized for any comments that seemed out of context or hurtful, affirming her respect for the athletes.
Then, on July 6, Skinner issued a more formal apology, stating her comparison between the “Marta Era” and the current era might have been influenced by unresolved issues from her past experiences.
She took full responsibility for her comments and expressed deep regret.
Additional Information
- Skinner announced her retirement from competitive gymnastics and decided to return to the University of Utah to finish her degree in broadcast journalism.
- She finished fifth in the all-around at the Olympic Trials. As an individual competitor, she was chosen to represent the U.S. at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics.
- Skinner married Jonas Harmer, whom she met while studying at the University of Utah. The couple has a daughter, Charlotte Jane.
