Simone Biles and MyKayla Skinner: A Timeline of Their Rivalry

The following article mentions sexual abuse.

American gymnast Simone Biles made history at the Paris Olympics. After earning three gold medals and one silver at the 2024 Games, she became the most decorated Olympic gymnast in Team USA history. Despite dealing with a minor calf injury during the qualifying rounds, she made a triumphant comeback after pulling out of the Tokyo Olympics to focus on her mental health.

Beyond her competitive successes, Biles had to navigate some behind-the-scenes drama. Her rivalry with former US National Artistic Gymnastics team member MyKayla Skinner reached new heights during the Paris competition. Skinner, once dubbed “the most hated gymnast in the NCAA,” has always been known for her controversial comments and competitive nature.

Before the 2024 Olympics, Skinner voiced her opinions on the current state of gymnastics, which did not sit well with many, including Biles. This is how their relationship deteriorated from teammates to social media adversaries.

Simone Biles and MyKayla Skinner’s rivalry dates back to 2014, when they competed at the World Championships in Nanning, China. Biles, fresh off multiple medals in 2013, was up against Skinner, who was set to shine in the vault event.

Both gymnasts gave strong performances, but Biles edged out Skinner due to her execution of the Amanar vault, a complex move that earned her a silver medal. Skinner, with a slightly lower score, took home the bronze. At that time, Skinner seemed satisfied, remarking, “I feel awesome,” while Biles celebrated the team’s success, saying, “It actually blows my mind.”

After their 2014 showdown, both athletes aimed for the 2016 Olympic team. Biles made the team, while Skinner, finishing fourth at the trials, was selected as an alternate. Despite being honored to support her team, Skinner expressed her disappointment, describing her time as an alternate as “miserable at times” and questioning the fairness of the selection process.

During these Olympics, the Final Five, including Biles, made history as the most decorated women’s gymnastics squad, further solidifying Biles’ emerging legacy.

Skinner was not alone in narrowly missing the 2016 team, but her online behavior set her apart. She retweeted several contentious posts, including a photoshopped image of her over Gabby Douglas, which many found racist. Skinner apologized, but the damage was done.

Biles, although not commenting directly on Skinner’s post, has consistently spoken against racism in sports. Notably, in 2023, Biles vocally supported a young Black gymnast who faced discrimination, stating, “There is no room for racism in any sport.”

Despite the tensions, Biles displayed public support for Skinner at the Tokyo Olympics. When Skinner replaced Biles in the vault finals, Biles cheered her on, even advocating for her with their coach. Skinner noted Biles’ encouragement during her vault, which ultimately resulted in Skinner winning a silver medal.

At that moment, their relationship seemed solid, with Biles expressing her pride in Skinner’s achievement.

After retiring from gymnastics post-2020 Olympics, Skinner transitioned into social media, focusing on family and gymnastics. However, a video where she criticized the 2024 U.S. team garnered significant attention. Complaints about the current team’s work ethic clearly upset Biles, leading her to post a subtle clap back, interpreted as directed towards Skinner.

“Not everyone needs a mic and a platform,” Biles wrote, highlighting the tension between the two former teammates.

Skinner further stirred controversy with her remarks about SafeSport, an organization protecting athletes from abuse. Suggesting that SafeSport might limit gymnasts’ potential, Skinner’s comments likely struck a nerve with Biles, a survivor of sexual abuse by Dr. Larry Nassar.

Biles, having spoken out about the failures of USA Gymnastics in protecting athletes, did not directly comment on Skinner’s statements, but the implications were clear.

Following the backlash, Skinner apologized for her video, claiming her comments were misunderstood and not aimed at Biles’ teammates. She insisted she was referring to athletes at her own gym, although her original statements made this unclear.

The explanation did little to mend the situation, as her initial remarks seemed clearly targeted.

At the 2024 Olympics, Biles and her team won gold in the all-around category. After Skinner congratulated the team on social media, Biles responded with a post celebrating their “Lack of talent, lazy Olympic champions,” a clever retort to Skinner’s comments.

The post received widespread support from the gymnastics community, while Skinner faced renewed criticism, highlighting the continuing discord between the two athletes.

After Biles’ clever retort, the situation escalated further when Skinner blocked Biles on social media. Biles tweeted humorously about being blocked, suggesting she was more amused than upset. Team member Jordan Chiles also chimed in, sharing a photo of Skinner’s blocked account.

Skinner has not publicly commented on the blocking, but it’s evident that the former teammates won’t be reconciling any time soon.

Before the Games, Biles had planned to stay off social media to avoid negativity, but she seemingly made an exception for this conflict.