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Simone Biles will always stand up for Team USA. The 27-year-old gymnast talked about how she has her teammates backs throughout a new interview after closing out her third Olympic Games.
” Its essential since you have to teach them to use their voices,” she informed PEOPLE in an interview published previously this week. “And if not, youre a voice for the voiceless, which is OK.”
As the “group lead” and the eldest player on the team, Simone mentioned that it “simply felt like it was right because moment to defend them, due to the fact that theyre so young and they have not fully stood in their power yet.”
She didnt define what precisely she safeguarded her colleagues– Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey, Suni Lee and Hezly Rivera– against, Simones remark was made the very same day that MyKayla Skinner publicly asked her to “stop” her fans from bothering the previous Olympian.
” Lack of talent, lazy, olympic champs,” Simone captioned her post. Soon afterwards, MyKayala obstructed Simone on Instagram, and Simone seemingly confirmed it by tweeting, “Oop Ive been obstructed.”
“If Simone truly believes that I called our team lazy and doing not have talent and if thats really how she feels, I am actually sad over it. Not simply heartbroken due to the fact that it isnt what I feel or even how I formerly stated, however due to the fact that Simones newest post and others that followed it sustained another wave of despiteful remarks, DMs, posts and e-mails.
Upon receiving backlash from fans, MyKayla publicly asked forgiveness, however Simone seemingly clapped back at her former teammate in an Instagram post after Team USA won the gold medal.
” Lack of skill, lazy, olympic champions,” Simone captioned her post. Numerous social media users and athletes were persuaded that the GOAT was making a recommendation to MyKaylas remarks. Shortly thereafter, MyKayala blocked Simone on Instagram, and Simone relatively confirmed it by tweeting, “Oop Ive been blocked.”
Throughout her Instagram video, MyKayla declared that she had actually sent each gymnast from Team USA “specific messages” asking forgiveness to them, however only Simone presumably reacted and said “she was happy” of MyKayla.
” You guys can imagine my surprise last week when I was commemorating our group winning gold just to see this raised all over once again by a caption on an Instagram post,” the Arizona native stated, before adding. “If Simone truly believes that I called our team lazy and lacking talent and if thats actually how she feels, I am truly heartbroken over it. Not just sad because it isnt what I feel or even how I formerly stated, however because Simones most current post and others that followed it fueled another wave of despiteful comments, DMs, posts and e-mails. Hate that consists of death risks to me my household and even my representative. My family and my friends dont deserve to be captured in the crossfire here. Theyve not done anything.”
Simone has not publicly responded to MyKaylas Instagram video.
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Oh she ENDED Mykayla Skinner pic.twitter.com/E594MNPhsO
— Ryan Roberts HC period (@chrisovitina) July 31, 2024
” I am asking you straight and publicly to please put a stop to this,” MyKayla, 27, said in an Instagram video earlier today. “Please ask your fans to stop. … Watching people cheer on the bullying is revolting.”
MyKayla was referring to the vitriol she has seen from online users over remarks she previously made about the existing generation of gymnasts. In June, the 2020 vault silver medalist appeared in a video, criticizing the “talent” and “work principles” of the athletes compared to those from the past under previous Team USA organizer Márta Károlyi. Upon receiving reaction from fans, MyKayla publicly asked forgiveness, but Simone seemingly clapped back at her former teammate in an Instagram post after Team USA won the gold medal.