What began as a fun watch party for the US Olympic gymnastics trials turned into a whirlwind for MyKayla Skinner. After she posted a now-deleted YouTube video recapping the event, things took a dramatic turn for the Tokyo Olympian. Comments made during the video stirred up major drama within the gymnastics community, drawing reactions from heavyweights like Simone Biles, Jordan Chiles’ mother, and other veterans of the sport. Soon enough, shade was thrown, stars unfollowed Skinner, and apologies were exchanged as tensions ran high.
But now, a week later, the storm seems to have settled. MyKayla Skinner is ready to turn the page. On July 9, she took to Instagram stories with some heartwarming posts featuring her adorable nine-month-old daughter, Charlotte Jane, aka Lottie. The series of posts kicked off with Lottie showing off her crawling skills in front of her proud dad, Jonas Harmer. MyKayla gushed, “Lottie’s personality is starting to show and it’s so fun! Loves playing tag with dad.”
In another clip, Jonas was seen cuddling up to their giggling bundle of joy. MyKayla captioned it, “She thinks everything is so funny!” The love fest continued with Lottie being lifted high in the air, giggling away while playing with her dad. “Okay last one! She makes me so happy!” MyKayla wrote alongside the video.
Wrapping up the adorable showcase, MyKayla shared a picture of little Lottie dressed in an adorable grey and red summer dress, complete with a matching red bow, eating cereal. Taking a look at the heartwarming moments shared in MyKayla Skinner’s stories, it’s striking how different things were just a week ago. Let’s rewind and see how the drama started and unfolded.
Simone Biles and the gymnastics community irked by MyKayla Skinner
MyKayla Skinner stirred up quite a storm during the gymnastics trials with some bold statements. She questioned the depth of talent on Team USA (Simone Biles, Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey and Hezly Rivera) and shared that, aside from Biles, not everyone puts in the same effort. Skinner also took a swipe at SafeSport rules, suggesting they might be softening athletes’ competitive edge. Her remarks didn’t stop there—she commented on the absence of the Russian team and critiqued performances by Jordan Chiles and Suni Lee, which didn’t sit well with fans and fellow gymnasts.
Despite being 27, Skinner expressed a desire to still compete, especially after seeing injuries affect other gymnasts’ chances at the trials. She also had some less-than-flattering words about Hezly Rivera, whose earlier success she had cheered for but now seemed to have soured on. After facing backlash, MyKayla Skinner found herself unfollowed by some big names in gymnastics. Simone Biles, who was teammates with Skinner in Tokyo 2021, made her stance crystal clear to the gymnastics community.
USA Today via Reuters
Jun 28, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Simone Biles looks on prior to the U.S. Olympic Team Gymnastics Trials at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
Biles didn’t hold back, posting on Threads, “Not everyone needs a mic and a platform,” clearly aiming her words at Skinner’s critiques of this year’s Olympic team. Jordan Chiles’ mom also chimed in on X, saying, “Whoa. She really said that out loud and posted it. That’s something…” Even Hezly Rivera’s sister, Carhelis, took to Instagram Stories to call out Skinner directly.
Carhelis posted, along with a photo from the 2018 Hopes Classic where Skinner presented Hezly with a medal and said, “KIND OF FUNNY THAT YOU DIDN’T KNOW HOW TO PRONOUNCE MY SISTER’S NAME, ESPECIALLY SINCE SHE WAS ON NATIONAL TV WHERE I’M SURE YOU HEARD THE COMMENTATORS SAY HER NAME CORRECTLY EVERY TIME.” Skinner felt the fallout on social media as Simone Biles, Sunisa Lee, Jade Carey, Joscelyn Roberson, and Jordan Chiles all gave her the cold shoulder by unfollowing her on Instagram. Soon after, attempts were made to right the wrongs.
Two Apologies Too Much?
On Wednesday, July 3rd, MyKayla Skinner took to her Instagram Stories with a video to clear the air about her remarks. She explained that her comments weren’t aimed at the current team members but were more about her observations on changes in work ethic since her days with former team coordinator Márta Károlyi. But instead of calming things down, her explanation seemed to stir up more criticism in the community, with people wondering if she really addressed the controversy or just stuck to her guns.
After taking heat from gymnastics veterans like Vanessa Atler and Kathy Johnson, MyKayla Skinner felt the pressure and issued a second apology on her Instagram late Saturday evening, July 6th. She said, “I want to formally apologize to Team USA and to our gymnastic community for my comments during my recent YouTube episodes of the Gymnastics Olympic Trials. It was not my intention to offend or disrespect any of the athletes or to take away from their hard work. Your hard work and dedication have paid off and I congratulate each and every one of you.”
Reflecting on her remarks, Skinner admitted that, upon reflection, she had been comparing the ‘Marta Era’ to the current era. She acknowledged that she hadn’t fully dealt with the emotional and verbal abuse she endured under Marta, which may have contributed to her hurtful comments. Skinner took full responsibility for what she said and expressed deep apologies. Following her apology, she decided to turn off comments on her posts, blocking any further backlash. As the dust begins to settle on this fiery storm, what are your thoughts on the drama dying down? Share your opinions in the comments below!
Debate
Did MyKayla Skinner make the right choice stepping away from the gymnastics drama for family time?