You saw the post. Everyone saw the post. On July 30, 2024, the world watched Simone Biles and her teammates—Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey, and Hezly Rivera—stand on the podium in Paris with gold medals around their necks. Then came the Instagram caption that basically broke the internet: "lack of talent, lazy, olympic champions."
It was a mic drop. Honestly, it was a whole stage collapse.
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But if you aren't a die-hard gymnastics fan who follows every YouTube vlog and social media "sub-thread," you might have been a little lost. Why was the GOAT being so salty after winning her eighth Olympic medal? Who was she even talking to? The answer is MyKayla Skinner, a former teammate whose ill-timed comments sparked one of the most public and heated feuds in the history of U.S. gymnastics.
The YouTube Video That Started It All
The drama didn't actually start in Paris. It started in a suburban living room about a month earlier.
After the U.S. Olympic Trials in June, MyKayla Skinner—who won a silver medal on vault in Tokyo—posted a reaction video on her YouTube channel. While she was supposed to be cheering on the new squad, her commentary took a sharp, weird turn.
"Besides Simone, I feel like the talent and the depth just isn't like what it used to be," Skinner said in the now-deleted video. She didn't stop there. She went on to say that the "girls just don't have the work ethic" and hinted that the "safe sport" environment (which was created to protect athletes from abuse) was making coaches too soft.
She basically implied that because the team wasn't being treated the way gymnasts were back in the day, they weren't as good.
The gymnastics community didn't take it well. Parents of the current gymnasts were furious. Fans were livid. And the athletes? They were paying attention. Jordan Chiles' mother, Gina, was one of the first to speak out on X, essentially asking why on earth MyKayla would say those things out loud.
Simone Biles Doesn't Play Around
Simone has always been the "mom" of the team, but she's also their fiercest protector. Shortly after Skinner’s video went viral, Biles posted a short, cryptic message on Threads: "not everyone needs a mic and a platform."
She didn't name names. She didn't have to.
When Team USA won the gold in Paris, they didn't just win; they dominated. They proved that you can have a "healthy" work environment, you can have fun, you can prioritize mental health, and you can still be the best in the world.
That "lack of talent, lazy" caption wasn't just a clapback. It was a defense of her teammates. In a later interview with People, Biles admitted she felt she had to stand up for the younger girls who hadn't "found their voice" yet.
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The "Block" Heard 'Round the World
The feud took a petty (and hilarious) turn just hours after Biles’ post. Fans noticed that Simone was suddenly unable to tag MyKayla or see her profile.
Jordan Chiles eventually posted a screenshot on her own Instagram story showing that Skinner had officially blocked Biles. Simone's response? She hopped on X and just wrote: "oop I’ve been blocked." It was peak 2024 internet culture.
Why This Feud Cut So Deep
To understand why this got so ugly, you have to look at the history. Gymnastics has a dark past. For decades, the "Márta Károlyi era" was defined by intense pressure, verbal abuse, and a culture of silence.
Skinner's comments weren't just about "working hard." To many, it sounded like she was nostalgic for a time when athletes were miserable.
- Suni Lee has been battling two different kidney diseases.
- Jade Carey was dealing with a massive "twisties" scare and illness right before the team final.
- Jordan Chiles has fought through years of being told she wasn't "focused" enough.
Calling these women "lazy" after they've literally bled for the sport? Yeah, that’s going to start a war.
The Aftermath: Death Threats and Public Pleas
The story took a darker turn about a week later. Skinner posted a four-minute video on Instagram, visibly upset and in tears. She claimed that she and her family—including her infant daughter—were receiving death threats because of the "cyberbullying" fueled by the feud.
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"To Simone, I am asking you directly and publicly to please put a stop to this," Skinner said. She claimed she had already sent personal apologies to the team and that Biles had actually responded kindly before the "lazy" post went up.
It was a messy situation. On one hand, Skinner’s comments were genuinely hurtful and dismissive of her peers' hard work. On the other, the internet's "cancel culture" often goes way too far, and nobody deserves threats against their family over a sports take.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Feud
A lot of casual observers think this was just about two athletes not liking each other. It’s deeper. This was a clash of philosophies.
Skinner represents the old-school mentality that "aggression and intensity" (her words) are the only ways to win. Biles represents the new guard—the "Golden Girls" who believe you can be happy, healthy, and still win gold.
Honestly, the results speak for themselves. The 2024 team put up some of the highest scores we've seen in years. They did it while laughing, dancing on the sidelines, and supporting each other.
Actionable Insights: Lessons from the Drama
If you’re following this saga, there are actually a few things we can learn about digital communication and conflict:
- Context is everything. If you’re going to critique a group of people, doing it on a public YouTube channel while they are preparing for the biggest moment of their lives is... bad timing, to say the least.
- Apologies need to be specific. Skinner’s initial apology felt a bit like a "sorry you took it that way" post. When you hurt people, own the specific impact of your words.
- The "High Road" isn't always silent. Simone Biles showed that you can be a leader by standing up for your team. You don't always have to ignore the noise; sometimes you have to shut it down.
- Protect your peace. If you find yourself in a toxic social media loop, the "block" button is there for a reason. Whether you're a GOAT or a fan, walking away from the screen is usually the best move.
The Simone Biles MyKayla Skinner feud likely won't end with a public hug and a selfie anytime soon. But the "Golden Girls" of 2024 have already made their point. They aren't lazy, they aren't untalented, and they definitely aren't staying quiet anymore.
To stay updated on the team’s upcoming "Gold Over America" tour and see how they continue to change the sport, keep an eye on the official USAG socials.