They say the right coach can polish you like a diamond! Well, for MyKayla Skinner, her long-time coach seems much more than that. Identifying her strengths and training her to be the best version of herself on the mats, her coach has played a pivotal role in her journey since the age of 11. Interestingly, not just as a passive adviser, but by actively propelling Skinner’s growth from being a 2016 Olympic team alternate to a Tokyo Olympic vault silver medalist!

From Skinner’s collegiate stints to her international and national events, this coach-pupil duo has been inseparable. Their lasting bond evinces the trust and camaraderie they share. Eager to find out who this influential coach is? Let’s dive right in.

Meet MyKayla Skinner’s coach, Lisa Spini

Lisa Spini is MyKayla Skinner’s coach and her most trusted guru for everything that concerns gymnastics. And rightly so, for Spini is a veteran in the field. A gymnastics coach since 1976, she brings abundant experience to the sport. As the founder of the Desert Lights Gymnastics Training Center, she imparts her expertise to the budding generation of talent. One of her students, MyKayla Skinner, has greatly benefited from her crucial teachings.

What’s more? Spini’s track record has been nothing short of exemplary. Under her tutelage, over 100 women athletes have earned scholarships, and many have gone on to achieve state, regional, international, and Olympic distinctions. While the satisfaction of this achievement is hard to express, the pinnacle of recognition came in 1989 and 1990 when she was entrusted to coach the National Team. She was subsequently honored with the title of Master of Sport for Gymnastics, lauded for her coaching prowess.

As for Spini’s tenure with Skinner, it feels like a special one. “I just help her time it all out–we need to be doing this by this date, and then this by this date, etc.,” she seemed to have set a flexible yet solid pattern for Skinner to follow. Moreover, at heart, Spini seems deeply connected with MyKayla. She once said, “I loved working with MyKayla. I feel like she’s my baby.” 

Besides, the two have experienced significant highs together as a unit. MyKayla has achieved accolades such as being a 2-time NCAA champion, 7-time Pac-12 champion, and a gold medalist at the 2019 Team World Championships, among others. However, as her mentor, Spini has also been a supportive figure for MyKayla during tough times.

Coach Spini helped Skinner through tough times in her career

Back when Lassy Nassar, the doctor later convicted in the s**ual abuse scandal, was the USA gymnastics team doctor, like most other girls, he would treat MyKayla Skinner too. But thanks to Spini, she was never alone during the sessions. “I stayed next to her at the table,” Spini said. At all times, she wanted to take care of Skinner and keep her under a watchful eye, out of concern. “Nothing inappropriate happened. It wasn’t that I suspected anything. I like to make sure my athlete is being taken care of appropriately, so that’s what I did,” she said.

In retrospect, she nearly thanked herself for doing that. “I don’t think she was ever left alone with (Nassar). Lucky for us. Maybe that’s why she was spared.” At the 2014 World Championships in China, the same event where Skinner won a vault bronze and a team gold, Nassar was one of the team workers. But then and the rest of the time, thankfully for Spini, Skinner was not exposed to his wrongdoings. What do you think of this close-knit bond between Skinner and Spini? Let us know below.