Former U.S. Gymnast 'Heartbroken' By Treatment and Bullying From Simone Biles

Following their gold medal win over Italy in the women's team all-around event, Simone Biles and Team USA were celebrated worldwide for their showing at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

They also got a chance to throw some shade following the event, which saw them post a 171.296 compared to Italy's second place of 165.494. Following the clinching of their gold medal, cameras picked up on Biles and company planning out which TikTok they would perform. What we didn't get a chance to hear, but later saw on Biles' Instagram, was her plan to take a jab at former Team USA gymnast MyKayla Skinner.

The 2020 silver medalist had previously shared some thoughts about Team USA and some questions about the team.

"Besides Simone, I feel like the talent and the depth just isn’t what it used to be," Skinner said of the team's work ethic before the Olympics. "A lot of girls don’t work as hard. The girls just don’t have the work ethic."

These comments inspired Biles' caption of "lack of talent, lazy, olympic champions ❤️🥇🇺🇸," which she wrote clearly mocking Skinner.

Skinner never commented about Biles or the team again during the Olympics, which saw Biles nab four medals total three of which were gold. She did however block Biles following the post, and has seen her comment section on social media flooded with fans coming to Biles and the team's defense. Skinner finally broke her silence on social media to address the comments she made initially, and the cyberbullying from fans that she has had to endure.

“I sincerely hoped that this topic wouldn’t need to be revisited but unfortunately things have really gotten out of hand lately," Skinner explained.

Skinner also expressed that she didn't explain her point well enough which was the reason the comments blew up in the first place, and revealed that is not how she meant for her comments to be taken while pleading for the bullying to stop.

"Watching people cheer on the bullying, which has led to threats of physical harm to me my husband and our daughter is disgusting," Skinner said on Instagram. "So please at this point, I’m just asking for it to stop for the sake of my family because enough is enough."

"If Simone truly believes that I called our team lazy and lacking talent and if that’s really how she feels, I am really heartbroken over it," Skinner continued through tears. "But not just heartbroken because it isn’t what I feel or even how I previously said, but because Simone’s latest post and others that followed it fueled another wave of hateful comments, DMs, articles and emails."

Skinner revealed that she even resorted to dming Biles with hopes that Biles could send a message to fans who have since come after her.

"To Simone, I am asking you directly and publicly to please put a stop to this," she said. "Please ask your followers to stop. You have been an incredible champion for mental health awareness and a lot of people need your help now.

"We’ve been attacked in ways that I’m certain you never intended. Your performance, the team’s performance and the Olympics in general should be a time that we support one another.”

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Biles has yet to comment on what Skinner has said.