Olympic Silver Medalist Issues Weak Apology After Getting Called Out By Simone Biles For Criticism
MyKayla Skinner claims that her controversial comments about Simone Biles and the United States’ gymnastics team for the Paris Olympics were misunderstood. She issued an extremely weak apology after getting called out by many of her former teammates, as well as their families.
It certainly did not help to clear the air.
Skinner, 27, retired from the sport after winning a silver medal on the vault in Tokyo. Her performance in 2021 was extremely impressive, especially as an alternate, but it flew under the radar while Suni Lee won the all-around gold medal and Biles dealt with the twisties.
Now three years later, Skinner believes that the team for Paris is not up to the same level. In her opinion, it is a testament to the current state of U.S. gymnastics as a whole. She doesn’t think it’s what it should be.
Skinner expressed her thoughts during a two-hour+ video on YouTube that she has since made private.
Her comments continued on to discuss the U.S. Center for SafeSport. The Congress-run independent authority was created in 2017 “to prevent and respond to all forms of abuse and misconduct within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement.” Skinner implied that it prevents coaches from pushing their athletes to the fullest extent.
Skinner also suggested that she would’ve made this year’s team if she had come back.