MyKayla Skinner apologized for comments about a possible return to gymnastics
5 july 2024 в 20:37
McKayla Skinner is facing the consequences of comments that some believe she should have kept to herself.
Former gymnast, 27-year-old McKayla Skinner, caused outrage and confusion during a two-hour YouTube watch party, where she inserted herself into a hypothetical situation. Referring to the trials where three girls — Sky Blakely, Shilese Jones, and Kayla DiCello — suffered devastating injuries that ultimately prevented them from joining the US team in Paris. Skinner speculated that if she had returned, she «probably would have made that Olympic team».
«I'm not saying anything bad about the girls who got injured, but if I could come back, I think I could have done it. And I think, probably, would have made that Olympic team».
— Riley U (@gymguyri) July 3, 2024
«Besides Simone», - Skinner continued. «I feel like the talent and depth just isn’t the same as before. I mean, obviously, a lot of girls don’t work as hard. Girls just don’t have the work ethic».
Skinner even criticized SafeSport for limiting how strict coaches can be with athletes, suggesting that at all levels there are factors contributing to producing insufficiently qualified participants and competitors in the sport. In response to her former teammate’s unwarranted comments, the seven-time Olympic medalist posted in Threads: «not everyone needs a microphone and platform».
Simone Biles, 27, is heading to the 2024 Paris Olympics after winning the all-around at the Gymnastics Trials in Minneapolis. Besides Biles, the women’s team includes Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles, and newcomer Hezli Rivera.
Gina Chiles, Jordan Chiles' mother, posted on X: «Wow. She really said that out loud and posted it. That’s something…»
To address the criticism, Skinner posted an apology on her Instagram Stories on July 3, saying: «Hey guys, I just wanted to quickly come on here because I know we did a YouTube review, and I feel like a lot of you misinterpreted or misunderstood what I meant or said».
«A lot of the things I talked about didn’t always pertain to the current team, because I love and support all the girls who made it, and I am so proud of them. It was more about going back to my own training gym and how the work ethic is different from what it was in the Marta (Karolyi) era».
She added: «And I’m not defending Marta or saying she did things right… I’m just saying it was different. So, sorry for anything that was misconstrued or seemed offensive; it was never my intention and seriously, throughout the whole video».
McKayla was initially not selected to be part of the team after the Olympic Trials in Tokyo. However, she was later offered to compete in individual events after Simone withdrew from events due to her experience with the «twisties»
Former gymnast, 27-year-old McKayla Skinner, caused outrage and confusion during a two-hour YouTube watch party, where she inserted herself into a hypothetical situation. Referring to the trials where three girls — Sky Blakely, Shilese Jones, and Kayla DiCello — suffered devastating injuries that ultimately prevented them from joining the US team in Paris. Skinner speculated that if she had returned, she «probably would have made that Olympic team».
«I'm not saying anything bad about the girls who got injured, but if I could come back, I think I could have done it. And I think, probably, would have made that Olympic team».
— Riley U (@gymguyri) July 3, 2024
«Besides Simone», - Skinner continued. «I feel like the talent and depth just isn’t the same as before. I mean, obviously, a lot of girls don’t work as hard. Girls just don’t have the work ethic».
Skinner even criticized SafeSport for limiting how strict coaches can be with athletes, suggesting that at all levels there are factors contributing to producing insufficiently qualified participants and competitors in the sport. In response to her former teammate’s unwarranted comments, the seven-time Olympic medalist posted in Threads: «not everyone needs a microphone and platform».
Simone Biles, 27, is heading to the 2024 Paris Olympics after winning the all-around at the Gymnastics Trials in Minneapolis. Besides Biles, the women’s team includes Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles, and newcomer Hezli Rivera.
Gina Chiles, Jordan Chiles' mother, posted on X: «Wow. She really said that out loud and posted it. That’s something…»
To address the criticism, Skinner posted an apology on her Instagram Stories on July 3, saying: «Hey guys, I just wanted to quickly come on here because I know we did a YouTube review, and I feel like a lot of you misinterpreted or misunderstood what I meant or said».
«A lot of the things I talked about didn’t always pertain to the current team, because I love and support all the girls who made it, and I am so proud of them. It was more about going back to my own training gym and how the work ethic is different from what it was in the Marta (Karolyi) era».
She added: «And I’m not defending Marta or saying she did things right… I’m just saying it was different. So, sorry for anything that was misconstrued or seemed offensive; it was never my intention and seriously, throughout the whole video».
McKayla was initially not selected to be part of the team after the Olympic Trials in Tokyo. However, she was later offered to compete in individual events after Simone withdrew from events due to her experience with the «twisties»
© Zhinobaeva Margarita
