Ex-Olympic Gymnast Urges Simone Biles to Address Bullying and Threats

Former Olympic gymnast MyKayla Skinner has made a public plea to her former teammate, Simone Biles, urging the decorated athlete to help stop the flood of cyberbullying and death threats that have targeted Skinner and her family. Skinner's appeal comes after she faced intense backlash for comments made during the gymnastics Olympic trials.

Skinner, who shared her views on the changing work ethic among gymnasts in a YouTube video in June, emphasized that her remarks did not include Biles, as reported by the Hollywood Reporter. "Besides Simone, I feel like the talent and the depth just isn’t what it used to be," Skinner stated. "I mean, obviously, a lot of girls just don’t work as hard. The girls just don’t have the work ethic."

Timeline of Events:

• July 26: The Olympics began.

• July 31: Biles posts a cryptic message on social media referencing "lack of talent, lazy, olympic champions," alongside a photo of the U.S. team celebrating their gold medal victory.

• August 6: Skinner apologized for her comments and reached out to teammates, receiving a supportive response from Biles.

Following Biles’s social media post, Skinner and her family were subjected to a barrage of hateful comments and threats. On Tuesday, Skinner publicly appealed to Biles to intervene and quell the harassment. "I sincerely hoped that this topic wouldn’t need to be revisited, but unfortunately, things have really gotten out of hand lately," Skinner said. "Watching people cheer on the bullying—which has led to threats of physical harm to me, my husband, and our daughter—is disgusting."

Skinner expressed that she was "heartbroken" over the misunderstanding of her comments and the ensuing reaction from Biles’s followers. She reiterated her respect for Biles and highlighted the impact of the threats on her family and friends, who she said "don’t deserve to be caught in the crossfire."

Key Concerns:

• Cyberbullying has escalated to threats of physical harm against Skinner's family.

• Skinner stresses that disagreements should not escalate into harassment or threats.

• She highlights the importance of mental health awareness and support within the gymnastics community.

Skinner concluded her appeal with a heartfelt request for Biles to use her influence to stop the harassment. "Please put a stop to this. Please ask your followers to stop," Skinner urged. "Your performance, the team’s performance, and the Olympics, in general, should be a time that we support one another."

As the gymnastics world grapples with this controversy, the focus remains on fostering a supportive and positive environment, emphasizing mental health and unity among athletes. Skinner’s appeal underscores the importance of compassion and understanding in the face of public scrutiny.

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