MyKayla Skinner reacts to Simone Biles led USA women's gymnastics team winning gold medal at Paris Olympics days after criticizing their 'work ethic'

Olympic silver medalist from the Tokyo Games 2020 MyKayla Skinner shared her support for the USA women's Olympics gymnastics team, including Simone Biles, following their gold medal victory at the Paris Olympics 2024. The appreciation came even as Skinner had previously questioned the team's work ethics after their US Olympic Trials campaign in June.

Skinner hosted an Olympic trials watch party on her YouTube channel in June, where her remarks critiquing the women's gymnastics team for the quadrennial Games garnered comments from fans and the gymnasts. Skinner had said that except for Biles, she did not perceive the team as having the 'talent and depth' that she felt it used to have. She also questioned the team's work ethic, saying:

"Besides Simone, I feel like the talent and the depth just isn’t what it used to be. I mean, obviously, a lot of girls just don’t work as hard. The girls just don’t have the work ethic."

Months after the incident, Biles and the rest of the US team, including Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey, and Hezly Rivera, clinched a famous win in the team all-around event at the Bercy Arena on Tuesday. The American roster scored 171.296 to secure Olympic gold in the team event after 2016. Team Italy finished second to bag the silver after scoring 165.494, while the Rebeca Andrade-featuring Brazilian side took home the bronze with a score of 164.497.

The USA squad received acclaim from all over the world after becoming the Olympic champion, with Skinner joining in as well. The now-retired 27-year-old gymnast shared Inside Gym's post on her Instagram stories with multiple red hearts:

MyKayla Skinner's Instagram Story

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Simone Biles' seeming response to MyKayla Skinner after winning gold in Paris

Simone Biles during the Olympic Games Paris 2024 Artistic Gymnastics Women's Team Final | Getty

Simone Biles, the most decorated female gymnast of all time, added another feather to her crown with Tuesday's gold medal. She surpassed her compatriot and former American Olympic champion Shannon Miller's record of seven Olympic medals to become the most accomplished Olympic gymnast in history with a total of eight medals.

The 27-year-old Ohio native shared a post on her Instagram handle with her team after the win, and the caption seemed to be aimed at comments made earlier on the team. She appeared to take a jab at her former teammate MyKayla Skinner, as she wrote:

"lack of talent, lazy, olympic champions."

Simone Biles will be looking for her first individual gold of the Paris Olympics 2024 on Thursday, August 1, in the all-around event finals.