Former USA gymnastics team member McKayla Maroney is overtly throwing some shade at MyKayla Skinner.
“It doesn’t get more iconic than this,” Maroney, 28, wrote in a comment on Simone Biles’ Instagram post on Tuesday, July 30. “She f’d around n found out fr. Feels like I need to apologize just to redeem my first name.”
Maroney’s more obvious comment came after Biles, 27, appeared to shade Skinner — and her past controversial comments — on Tuesday after the U.S. women’s gymnastics team took the gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics. (Maroney was part of the “Fierce Five” that won gold at the 2012 Olympics.)
“Lack of talent, lazy, olympic champions,” Biles captioned her post, which showed her and teammates Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey and Hezly Rivera holding up the American flag while cheering for their win.
The 2024 Summer Olympics might be taking place in the City of Light, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t come with their fair share of darkness. Following a flashy opening ceremony on Friday, July 26 that continues to draw outrage from some celebrities and religious figures, the Games have been plagued by allegations of sexism […]
Fans were quick to draw subtle comparisons to past comments made by Skinner, 27, last month.
In a YouTube video, Skinner criticized “the talent and the depth” of the U.S. gymnastics team, claiming it “isn’t what it used to be.” She made sure to clarify that she was not talking about Biles.
(L-R) Jordan Chiles, Hezly Rivera, Simone Biles, Sunisa Lee and Jade Carey of Team United States celebrate after winning the gold medals during the Artistic Gymnastics Women’s Team Final on day four of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on July 30, 2024 in Paris, France. Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
“The girls just don’t have the work ethic,” Skinner continued. “A lot of girls don’t work as hard. It’s hard too because of SafeSport. Coaches can’t get on athletes which in some ways is really good but at the same time, to get to where you need to be in gymnastics you do have to be … a little aggressive, a little intense.”
McKayla Maroney and MyKayla Skinner Getty Images (2)
SafeSport is an independent organization that was created to prevent “to sexual, physical, and emotional abuse” in the U.S. Olympic and Paralympics.
After receiving a barrage of backlash for her comments, Skinner was quick to issue an apology.
Simone Biles and MyKayla Skinner had a history long before the retired gymnast’s controversial comments about Team USA’s work ethic. “Besides Simone, I feel like the talent and the depth just isn’t what it used to be. I mean, obviously, a lot of girls don’t work as hard. The girls just don’t have the work […]
“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,” she shared in a statement to Us Weekly earlier this month. “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 has paid off and I congratulate each and every one of you.”
McKayla Maroney stands on the podium with her silver medal during the medal ceremony following the Artistic Gymnastics Women’s Vault final on Day 9 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at North Greenwich Arena on August 5, 2012 in London, England. Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Skinner went on to say her comments came following “emotional and verbal abuse” she allegedly endured under past Team USA coach Márta Károlyi. (Márta and her husband, Béla Károlyi’s alleged strict gymnastics practices came to light in a 2018 piece published by the Associated Press.)
“I take full responsibility for what I said and I deeply apologize,” Skinner concluded. “It is most important to me that the sport I love continue down the path of healing and ensures a positive environment for all. I wish you all the very best in Paris. I will be cheering you all on! Go Team USA!”
