It seems that Simone Biles’ message to former teammate MyKayla Skinner has been received loud and clear.
On Wednesday, July 31, Biles posted on X (formerly known as Twitter), revealing that Skinner, who was her teammate on Team USA during the 2020 Tokyo Games, had blocked her on Instagram. Biles wrote, “oop I’ve been blocked,” adding several emojis for emphasis.
Around the same time, Jordan Chiles, who is part of the 2024 Olympics U.S. women’s artistic gymnastics team alongside Biles, shared a photo on her Instagram Stories. The photo depicted someone holding a phone, showing Skinner’s Instagram profile with the message “no posts yet,” indicating that Skinner’s content was no longer visible.
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The tension between Biles and Skinner dates back to June, when Skinner made controversial comments in a now-deleted YouTube video.
She criticized the 2024 gymnastics team, saying, “I feel like the talent and the depth just isn’t like what it used to be,” while adding that the gymnasts “don’t have the work ethic.” She did acknowledge Biles positively, saying, “Besides Simone…”
Skinner later claimed her remarks were “misinterpreted.” On July 3, she posted on her Instagram Stories, asserting that her comments were not entirely directed at the current team. “I love and support all the girls that made it, and I’m so proud of them,” she wrote. Skinner also issued an official apology to PEOPLE through her representative, expressing regret for her comments during the YouTube episodes related to the gymnastics Olympic trials.
On Tuesday, July 30, Biles, Chiles, and their teammates—Suni Lee, Hezly Rivera, and Jade Carey—secured gold in the women’s team all-around. Biles’ performance made her the most-decorated female gymnast in Olympic history.
Following their victory, Biles posted a celebratory photo of the team on Instagram with the caption, “Lack of talent, lazy, Olympic champions ?????.” Many interpreted this as a direct response to Skinner’s previous comments.
Skinner has not publicly responded to the renewed attention on her past remarks. However, she did post a supportive photo of the 2024 team from the Games, adding several heart emojis on her Instagram Stories on July 30.
During the Tokyo Games, Skinner competed individually for the U.S. and was not part of the main team. Initially, she did not qualify for any event finals after the qualification rounds. However, when Biles withdrew from the individual vault final due to the twisties, Skinner took her place and won a silver medal.
At that time, Biles and Skinner appeared to be close friends, often supporting each other on social media. This recent exchange, however, suggests a rift has developed between the two former teammates, adding a layer of drama to the ongoing Olympic narratives.
