Simone Biles aims brutal swipe at ex-team-mate after Olympic gold medal win

Simone Biles seemed to throw shade at a past team member after the USA's women's team triumphed with gold at the 2024 Olympics. The gymnastics superstar, aged 27, was on fire in Paris this Tuesday , joining forces with Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, and Jade Carey in their quest for glory.

The American squad left rivals in the dust as they took the lead by an impressive margin of nearly five-and-a-half points, leaving Italy to settle for silver.

Biles has etched her name in history as the most decorated US gymnast , boasting five medals from Rio 2016 and two from Tokyo 2020. She's in the running for four more in Paris, adding to the gold secured on Tuesday.

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After the team's win, Biles shared a celebratory snap on Instagram featuring her team with the Stars and Stripes, captioning it: "Lack of talent, lazy, Olympic champions."

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This seems to be a pointed jab at MyKayla Skinner , who previously criticised Biles and her teammates for lacking proper "work ethic ". Skinner, also 27, is an ex-member of Team USA who competed in Tokyo three years prior.

Skinner vented in a now-removed YouTube video: "Besides Simone, I feel like the talent and the depth just isn't like what it used to be. The girls just don't have the work ethic."

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She then hinted at the US Center for SafeSport, a body committed to curtailing sexual misconduct involving athletes and minors in US Olympic disciplines.

She remarked: "And it's hard too because of SafeSport. Like, coaches can't get on athletes and they have to be really careful what they say. 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, I feel like, a little aggressive and a little intense."

Simone Biles responded to Skinner's remarks by posting on Threads: "Not everyone needs a mic and a platform".

Following the social media block from Biles, Lee, Chiles, and Carey, Skinner issued an apology.

"I want to formally apologise to Team USA and to our gymnastic community for my comments during my recent YouTube episodes of the gymnastics Olympic trials," said Skinner. "It was not my intention to offend or disrespect any of the athletes or to take away from their hard work."

"Upon reflection I was comparing the Marta [Karolyi] era to the current era. I am coming to terms that I have not fully dealt with the emotional and verbal abuse I endured under Marta that perhaps led to my hurtful comments. I take full responsibility for what I said and I deeply apologise."