American former Gymnast, Mykayla Skinner is an 11-time winner at the USA National Championships. She also brought Gold for her country at the 2014 World Championships. However, her crowning glory was when she won the Silver Medal at the Tokyo Olympics 2020.

Mykayla stepped into the world’s biggest stage, as a replacement of Simone Biles. She had previously failed to qualify for the Olympics Vault, despite finishing in 11th place. This is due to the two-per-country policy, and 3 Americans, namely Simone Biles, Sunisha Lee, and Jade Carey were already ahead of her. 

Biles dropping out and Mykayla Skinner proving herself against all odds

Biles and Carey went ahead in the competitions before Biles decided to drop out right before the start. This is because she felt affected by the pressure of the Olympics and the weight of the world on her. This opened the door for Mykayla Skinner. With such big shoes to fill, Mykayla lived up to them, shone her name bright, and brought the Silver home. 

Mykayla had just recovered from several complications and ailments, before turning up at the Tokyo Olympics. Earlier that year, Mykayla had contracted pneumonia, and was hospitalized. She had also revealed that a bone spur had severely affected her preparation for the games. Despite all, Mykayla came in strong after getting that second lifeline and stood tall on all of her inhibitions.

She said, “After all those trials, I failed and failed, but then I got back up and just kept pushing and working hard, and even after having COVID and Bone Spur, I really thought it was over”. Mykayla performed the Cheng and Amanar vaults, earning an average score of 14.916, which placed her in the 2nd spot. 

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However, she had to overcome all the adversities and hurdles in order to be present and compete at the Olympics. Her Silver must have tasted no less than Gold, solely for that reason. 

What the Silver medal meant to Mykayla and why she cherishes it?

During a Pac-12 interview, when asked about what the medal meant to her, she gave a 3-worded response. She said, “It meant everything”, which was more than enough to summarize her feelings.

Mykayla had previously announced before the tournament started, that she would be retiring from competitive gymnastics after the Tokyo Olympics 2020. She was all set on her way out and had prepared herself for it mentally. Nevertheless, she got another chance at the competition, and to go out there and prove it one final time for herself meant the world to her. She asked herself, “How does that happen at the Olympics?” It was an enigmatic feat to achieve. 

Athletics often take their toll mentally on players. While it’s the physicality aspect, that the athletes train for all their life and on a daily basis, the mental aspect often goes unattended. Simone Biles is a world-class champion if there ever was one. Her ordeal with mental health and coming out openly to talk about it must have inspired millions of women (& men) around the Globe. At the same time, it is becoming more and more urgent to look into and is thus getting its due attention. 

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Mykayla’s achievement is an incredible feat. But let us all not underestimate the mental pressure she must have been in, for all those months vying up to the competitions. It is the world’s biggest stage and more to her and her spirit. Here’s wishing more and more athletes stun us in the future with their class and performance.