In a recent YouTube video, MyKayla Skinner, an Olympic gymnast, sparked controversy by critiquing the hopefuls for Paris, expressing concerns about the talent and depth of the current crop of gymnasts, aside from Simone Biles. Skinner, 27, suggested that a lack of work ethic and the impact of SafeSport may be contributing factors. The U.S. Center for SafeSport is an organization dedicated to preventing and addressing various forms of abuse within the Olympic movement, but its involvement with the women’s Olympic gymnastics team is unclear.

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Skinner’s comments were met with responses from the families of the Paris-bound gymnasts, who refuted her claims about their training regimens. Gina Chiles, mother of gymnast Jordan Chiles, expressed disbelief at Skinner’s public statement. Meanwhile, Biles took to Threads to subtly address the situation, suggesting that not everyone needs a platform to voice their opinions.

In the wake of the backlash, Skinner has issued an apology, claiming that her words were misinterpreted and misunderstood. She clarified that her comments were not directed at the current Olympic team, for whom she expressed support and admiration. Instead, Skinner attributed the differences in work ethic to the shift away from the Marta Karolyi era, known for its strict and demanding training environment.