Simone Biles, after Olympic team gold, takes apparent dig at ex-teammate’s criticism
In an Instagram post, Simone Biles appeared to take a dig at MyKayla Skinner, who had questioned the team’s talent and work ethic.
PARIS — She and Suni Lee are dancing with the American flag, Hezly Rivera and Jade Carey are flanking them, smiling broadly, and Jordan Chiles has her fist raised in the air. At first glance, it's just another celebratory post on Simone Biles' Instagram—part of a post-Olympic gold medal-winning reel featuring her teammates and her husband. But Biles added a subtle twist to the caption: "lack of talent, lazy, olympic champions."
View this post on Instagram
With this caption, Biles delivered a subtle yet powerful response to a now-deleted YouTube video posted by her former teammate, MyKayla Skinner, after the Olympic Trials. In the video, Skinner questioned the talent and work ethic of the current generation of gymnasts, attributing it to the SafeSport program and the coaching style it promotes. Biles, ever aware of the conversations surrounding her, seemingly responded with a subtle yet powerful message.
Biles has been vocal about her experiences with trolls and critics, particularly those who labeled her a "quitter" after her decision to prioritize her mental health in Tokyo. Her response to Skinner's comments was swift, and her message was clear: "not everyone needs a mic and a platform." Skinner's subsequent apology, attributing her "hurtful comments" to her past experiences with abuse, did little to sway Biles, who appears to have kept a mental note of the incident.
This episode highlights Biles' ongoing journey of navigating the public eye and responding to criticism with a combination of subtlety and strength.
View this post on Instagram
With this caption, Biles delivered a subtle yet powerful response to a now-deleted YouTube video posted by her former teammate, MyKayla Skinner, after the Olympic Trials. In the video, Skinner questioned the talent and work ethic of the current generation of gymnasts, attributing it to the SafeSport program and the coaching style it promotes. Biles, ever aware of the conversations surrounding her, seemingly responded with a subtle yet powerful message.
Biles has been vocal about her experiences with trolls and critics, particularly those who labeled her a "quitter" after her decision to prioritize her mental health in Tokyo. Her response to Skinner's comments was swift, and her message was clear: "not everyone needs a mic and a platform." Skinner's subsequent apology, attributing her "hurtful comments" to her past experiences with abuse, did little to sway Biles, who appears to have kept a mental note of the incident.
This episode highlights Biles' ongoing journey of navigating the public eye and responding to criticism with a combination of subtlety and strength.