At the Paris Olympics, Simone Biles, the most decorated gymnast in U.S. history, stirred controversy with a post on Instagram following Team USA’s gold medal win. The post, featuring celebratory photos with her teammates, had a caption reading “lack of talent, lazy Olympic Champions.” This was a direct retort to former teammate Michaela Skinner, who had previously criticized the team’s talent and work ethic in a YouTube video.

Simone Biles, known for her extraordinary career and numerous medals, used her platform to respond to Skinner’s comments. Biles, who had already made a notable comeback by adding more gold to her collection, chose this moment to highlight the team’s achievements and resilience.

Michaela Skinner, recognized for her strong performances and a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics, had expressed her dissatisfaction with the current team’s performance and work ethic. Her comments were met with disappointment and backlash from the gymnastics community and public. In response, Biles’s post aimed to showcase the team’s success and counter Skinner’s critique.

Following the social media clash, Skinner attempted to mitigate the situation by deleting the controversial video and issuing a formal apology. Despite this, the backlash continued, and Skinner’s apology was seen by some as inadequate.

Additionally, Biles subtly addressed the situation on social media, emphasizing the importance of constructive criticism and expressing a sentiment that some opinions are better kept private. The situation was further complicated when Biles revealed she had been blocked by Skinner on social media, leading to additional public scrutiny.

The drama between Biles and Skinner underscores the intense dynamics and pressures within the world of elite gymnastics, illustrating how personal disagreements can become public spectacles in the age of social media.