Mykayla Skinner’s comments really ruffled feathers when she said, “But besides Simone, I feel like the talent and depth just isn’t what it used to be.” Her words set off a firestorm of controversy and left her in hot water. As a result, several gymnasts, including Simone Biles, Suni Lee, Jade Carey, Jocelyn Roberson, and Jordan Chiles, gave her the cold shoulder by blocking her on social media. However, this raises a crucial question: Except for Simone Biles, is the rest of the gymnastics team up to par? Undoubtedly yes! They proved their worth in the Paris Olympics all-around qualifying round.

In the qualifying event on July 28th, the United States surged ahead with a commanding total of 172.296 points, leaving their competitors in the dust. Italy, China, and Brazil followed but couldn’t catch up. Despite dealing with a calf injury from a rough landing during floor warm-ups, Simone Biles stole the show by posting the highest overall score of the day. With a score of 59.566, Biles finished the all-around qualification round in first place, securing her spot in the finals. Her teammate Suni Lee also advanced, securing second place with a score of 56.132.

Jordan Chiles landed in third with a score of 56.065. However, with only two gymnasts from each country allowed to advance to the individual all-around final, the stakes are high. Today, July 29th, the women’s team all-around final will be the deciding factor in who gets to take the leap to Paris.

These athlete’s performance is a direct rebuttal to Mykayla Skinner’s claim that “the girls just don’t have the work ethic.” Clearly, these gymnasts have shown who they are and what they are capable of! Many celebrities and athletes congratulated Chiles and her team. For instance, Nick Jonas shared a video of Simone Biles’s vault, while Claire Little gave a shoutout to Biles and her teammates and more.

Since then more than 24 hours have passed but amidst all this, Mykayla Skinner has remained silent. She hasn’t posted anything on X, YouTube, Instagram, or TikTok, and hasn’t offered any congratulations or comments for Team USA. This raises the question: Does her silence mean she still stands by her earlier remarks and was her previous apology insincere?

Was MyKayla Skinner’s apology just a case of damage control?

MyKayla Skinner, the silver medalist from the 2020 Olympics then after creating a mess, issued an apology following backlash over her comments about Team USA’s 2024 squad. The team includes Simone Biles, Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, Hezly Rivera, and Jade Carey. Skinner continued, “It’s hard [to have the same work ethic as before] because of SafeSport… Some of the girls who fell twice and still ended up in second place in the all-around, it’s just kind of crazy to me.” She might be pointing out Suni Lee as she finished second in trials with a score of 111.675 despite slipping early in her balance beam routine, she recovered twice, scoring 12.825.

Although the video she shared has been removed, clips continue to circulate on social media. Initially, Skinner responded with a brief video claiming her comments were misinterpreted, but she later offered a full apology. Among those who responded critically was Simone Biles, who addressed the situation on Threads, stating, “Not everyone needs a mic and a platform.” Skinner, who won a silver medal in vault at the Tokyo Olympics after stepping in for Biles, saw her own Olympic aspirations derailed by the “twisties,” with Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade ultimately taking gold in the event. If Team USA bags the gold at the Paris Olympics, it will put a lid on all the critics of the team selection. As they say, time will tell and prove that patience is a virtue.