It started with a deleted YouTube video. Then it became a global headline during the Paris 2024 Olympics. Honestly, the MyKayla Skinner Simone Biles saga is one of those messy sports stories that just won't stay in the past. It’s got everything: Olympic gold, spicy Instagram captions, and a debate about "old school" coaching vs. modern mental health.
You probably saw the "lack of talent, lazy" post from Simone. But if you think this was just a one-off comment that went viral, you're missing the deeper friction that had been building for years.
The Comment That Set the World on Fire
Back in July 2024, MyKayla Skinner—a 2020 Olympic silver medalist and former teammate of Simone's—posted a video on her YouTube channel. She was recapping the U.S. Olympic Trials.
She said something that most people found pretty shocking. Basically, she claimed that "besides Simone," the talent and depth of the current U.S. team weren't what they used to be. She didn't stop there. She argued that the younger gymnasts lacked the "work ethic" of her generation and blamed SafeSport—the organization that handles abuse reports—for making coaches too "careful" with how they talk to athletes.
The backlash was instant.
Fans were livid. Jordan Chiles’ mom was stunned. Simone Biles herself didn't say much at first, but she let her gymnastics do the talking. After the U.S. team (Jade Carey, Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, and Hezly Rivera) dominated the team final in Paris to win gold, Biles dropped the hammer.
She posted a photo of the team celebrating with the caption: "Lack of talent, lazy, Olympic champions."
Short. Sharp. Lethal.
Why the Beef is More Than Just a Caption
To understand why this hit so hard, you have to look at the history of U.S. gymnastics. MyKayla Skinner was part of the "Marta Era." This was the period under Márta Károlyi where the training was notoriously intense, and many athletes later came forward about the emotional and verbal abuse they suffered.
Skinner eventually apologized, saying her comments were "misinterpreted." She claimed she was just comparing the old-school intensity to the new way of doing things. In an emotional Instagram post, she admitted she hadn't fully dealt with the abuse she endured under Marta, which might have fueled her bitter take on the current team's "work ethic."
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But for Biles and the rest of the 2024 squad, it felt like a slap in the face.
- Suni Lee had literally been fighting through two different kidney diseases to get back to the mat.
- Jade Carey had been battling illness during the Games.
- Jordan Chiles had rebuilt her entire career after almost quitting the sport.
Calling these women "lazy" wasn't just a critique of their gymnastics. It felt like an attack on their character.
The Blocking and the "Ostracized" Claims
Things didn't end with the gold medal. Shortly after Simone's "lazy" caption went viral, news broke that MyKayla Skinner had blocked Simone Biles on Instagram. Jordan Chiles actually posted a photo of Simone’s phone showing the "User Not Found" screen.
It was high school drama at an Olympic level.
Then came the second wave of the feud in mid-2025. This time, it wasn't about work ethic—it was about culture. When Simone Biles got into a public spat with former swimmer Riley Gaines over transgender inclusion in sports, Skinner didn't stay on the sidelines.
Skinner released a statement to One America News, throwing her support behind Gaines. But then she added a personal twist. She claimed that during her time on the team, she felt "belittled, dismissed, and ostracized" by Simone behind the scenes.
"Throughout my own career, I endured being belittled... by Simone. The pressure to stay silent was immense," Skinner said in June 2025.
It was a total 180 from the "I love those girls" sentiment she had shared just months prior.
The Reality of Cyberbullying
One of the darker sides of the MyKayla Skinner Simone Biles fallout has been the treatment of Skinner online. After Biles’ "lazy" post, Skinner claimed she began receiving death threats. She even made a public plea to Simone, asking her to tell her followers to stop.
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"I am asking you directly and publicly to please put a stop to this," Skinner said in a video. She pointed out that Simone is a champion for mental health and should understand the toll this was taking on her family.
It highlights a messy paradox. On one hand, Skinner’s comments were seen as toxic and outdated. On the other, the internet's response—death threats and attacks on her newborn daughter—was undeniably horrific.
What Most People Get Wrong
People often try to pick a "hero" and a "villain" in this story. If you're Team Simone, Skinner is the bitter ex-teammate who can't handle the sport moving on. If you're Team MyKayla, Biles is a "bully" using her massive platform to crush anyone who disagrees with her.
The truth is probably somewhere in the middle.
Gymnastics is a sport that is still healing from decades of systemic abuse. Skinner represents the old guard who was taught that "if it doesn't hurt, it's not working." Biles represents the new era where you can be the GOAT and still prioritize your peace of mind. These two mindsets were bound to clash eventually.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Athletes
If you're following this drama or you're an athlete yourself, there are a few real-world takeaways from this whole mess:
- Digital footprints are permanent: Even "deleted" videos live forever in screen recordings. Think before you vent on a public platform.
- Work ethic looks different now: In 2026, we've learned that "working harder" doesn't have to mean "working until you break." Efficiency and health are the new metrics of talent.
- Check your sources: Much of the Skinner-Biles feud was fueled by 15-second clips taken out of longer videos. Always look for the full context before forming a hard opinion.
- The "Marta Era" trauma is real: Acknowledge that many older gymnasts are still processing the environment they grew up in. Their "harsh" views are often a reflection of how they were treated.
The relationship between these two seems effectively over. With Simone moving into the next chapter of her life and Skinner focusing on her new role as an advocate for her specific views on women's sports, the gap between them only seems to be getting wider.
Keep an eye on the 2026 competition season; the atmosphere in the stands—and on social media—is still very much shaped by the lines drawn during this feud.