"You don't need a tougher coach"- Gabby Douglas reacts to MyKayla Skinner's controversial statements on USA Gymnastics Team for Paris Olympics

Gabby Douglas has stated that everyone has different ways of learning and excelling at gymnastics, and ‘tougher’ coaches aren't always needed to achieve success. The Olympic all-around champion was reacting to MyKayla Skinner’s comments about the USA Gymnastics Team. She had claimed that the team lacked the work ethic compared to previous teams of the Bella and Marta Karolyi era.

After the USA Gymnastics Team for the Paris Olympics 2024 was announced, Skinner shared her views about the team in a live video on her YouTube channel. The Tokyo medalist stated:

"Besides Simone, I feel like the talent and the depth just isn't like what it used to be. The girls just don't have the work ethic."

Adding that it was likely because of the ‘SafeSport’ policy, Skinner claimed that to excel in gymnastics, one needed to be ‘a little aggressive and a little intense’. However, her comments were heavily criticized on social media, and the gymnast later issued an apology as well.

2012 Olympic all-around champion Gabby Douglas shared her take on the controversy and didn't seem to be in agreement with Skinner’s claims. She stated that everyone has different techniques, and ‘tougher’ coaches don't necessarily guarantee success.

"Honestly, if you have a certain way of doing things, listen to your body," she noted. "If you don't need hours of pounding or you don't need a tougher coach, and it works for you, then I say why not structure around how your mind is, how your body is?," she told E! News.

"I really believe that you can't put everyone in the same category. That's just my take on it, everyone's different," Douglas added.

However, Douglas also added that for her own training, she preferred a ‘tough coach’ because she can get ‘lazy’.

"Not a mean coach," the 28-year-old explained. "I think people get that very confused. Not a mean coach but a tough coach that really will push the best out of you."

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MyKayla Skinner came under heavy criticism in 2016 after retweeting racist posts directed at Gabby Douglas

Gabby Douglas and MyLayla Skinner competed together at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials (Photo-Getty)

MyKayla Skinner and Gabby Douglas competed at the 2016 Olympic Gymnastics Trials, and despite impressive performances from both of them, only the latter qualified for the Rio Games.

Skinner was named as an alternate, and following the trials, the Tokyo medalist retweeted a series of racist posts directed at Douglas, with one of them showing a doctored photo of the all-around Olympic champion with Skinner’s face on it.

MyKayla Skinner received heavy criticism, following which she deleted the posts from her profile and issued an apology as well.