If you were scrolling through Instagram after the U.S. women’s gymnastics team secured gold in Paris, you probably saw the caption that lit the internet on fire. "Lack of talent, lazy, olympic champions." Short. Brutal. Iconic.
That was Simone Biles throwing a massive amount of shade. And honestly, it wasn't just some random competitive jab. It was the culmination of a messy, years-long saga involving her former teammate, MyKayla Skinner. Most people remember them standing together in Tokyo, but by the time 2024 rolled around, the vibe had shifted from teammates to a full-blown public feud that actually forced Skinner to beg for a "cease and desist" from the fans.
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The YouTube Video That Started the Fire
It basically all started with a now-deleted YouTube video.
Leading up to the Paris Games, MyKayla Skinner—who won silver on vault in Tokyo after Simone had to withdraw due to the "twisties"—decided to share her thoughts on the new Olympic roster. She didn't hold back. Skinner claimed that, besides Simone, the "talent and the depth just isn’t like what it used to be."
She went further, suggesting the girls lacked the "work ethic" of previous generations. She even took a swipe at the U.S. Center for SafeSport, implying that because coaches can’t "get on" athletes anymore, the intensity has dropped.
Here is why that stung so much:
The 2024 team included Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, and Jade Carey—all of whom were Skinner’s teammates in Tokyo. They had literally been in the trenches with her. To hear a former peer call you "lazy" on a public platform while you're preparing for the biggest moment of your life? Yeah, that’s going to leave a mark.
Simone Biles Doesn't Miss
Simone didn't respond immediately. She waited.
She waited until she had a gold medal around her neck. On July 30, 2024, after Team USA dominated the team final, Biles posted that "lazy" caption on Instagram. It was a direct quote of Skinner's critique. The gymnastics world absolutely lost it. Suni Lee commented, "Put a finger down if Simone Biles just ended you," and Jordan Chiles basically confirmed the beef was real by sharing that Skinner had blocked Simone on social media.
But this wasn't just about a caption. It was about Simone acting as the "mama bear" for a team that had been through literal hell—between health scares like Suni Lee’s kidney disease and the general pressure of the Olympic stage.
The Feud Gets Even Messier in 2025
Just when everyone thought the dust had settled, 2025 brought a whole new layer of drama. In June 2025, Skinner came out with some pretty heavy accusations, claiming she had been "belittled, dismissed, and ostracized" by Simone behind the scenes for years.
This shift in the narrative was wild. Skinner started aligning herself with other controversial figures like swimmer Riley Gaines, accusing Biles of being a "bully." She claimed that Simone’s public platform was being used to silence people and that the "claps back" were actually forms of cyberbullying.
- Skinner's Perspective: She felt her words were twisted and that she was being unfairly targeted by "the GOAT" and her millions of fans.
- The Team's Perspective: They felt Skinner had betrayed the sisterhood of the sport by criticizing them publicly rather than keeping it in the family.
The Long History: From Rio to Tokyo
To understand why this hit so hard, you have to look back at 2016. MyKayla Skinner was an alternate for the Rio Olympics. She sat in the stands while Simone, Gabby Douglas, and the rest of the "Final Five" won everything. She later admitted she cried every night in Rio. It was miserable for her.
Then came Tokyo. Skinner didn't make the initial team but qualified as an individual. When Simone withdrew from the vault final to protect her mental and physical health, it was Skinner who stepped in. She won the silver medal. At the time, it seemed like a beautiful "full circle" moment. Simone was her biggest cheerleader in the stands.
So, what changed? Honestly, it seems like a mix of retirement bitterness and a fundamental disagreement on how the sport should be coached. Skinner has often spoken fondly of the "Marta Karolyi era"—an era many other gymnasts, including Simone, have described as abusive and toxic.
What Most People Get Wrong
People think this is just "catty" drama. It's not.
It’s actually a clash of cultures. On one side, you have the old-school mentality (Skinner) that believes you need a certain "harshness" to be elite. On the other, you have Simone Biles, who has revolutionized the sport by prioritizing mental health and proving you can be the greatest in the world without being broken by your coaches.
When Skinner called the 2024 team "lazy," she wasn't just talking about their training. She was insulting the new way of doing things—a way that Biles fought hard to establish.
Current Status in 2026
As of now, the bridge appears to be completely burned. Skinner has largely moved into the "commentator" and "advocacy" space, often focusing on women's sports fairness, while Biles remains the face of global gymnastics. There hasn't been a public reconciliation.
If you’re following this saga, here is how to look at it objectively:
- Check the Source: Most of this drama happened on Threads and YouTube. If you want the full context, look at the original (archived) video clips rather than just the headlines.
- Understand the "Twisties": Much of Skinner's 2021 success was predicated on Simone's withdrawal. This created a complex power dynamic that likely contributed to the later friction.
- Watch "Simone Biles Rising": The Netflix docuseries gives a lot of insight into the "team lead" role Simone took on in 2024, which explains why she felt so protective of her teammates.
Next time you see a "celebrity feud," remember that in gymnastics, these women spent years living in the same dorms and training on the same mats. The emotions are deep, and the history is even deeper.
Actionable Insights:
- Follow the official USA Gymnastics accounts for the most accurate team updates, as they often subtly weigh in on these dynamics.
- Focus on the scoring changes between the 2021 and 2024 cycles to see why Skinner’s comments about "depth" were statistically questionable—the 2024 team actually posted higher difficulty scores in several areas.
- If you're interested in the "work ethic" debate, look up interviews with Chellsie Memmel, who now leads the program and explains how they balance high performance with athlete wellness.