Simone Biles at the Heart of a Bullying Scandal: Unpacking Team Tensions

Simone Biles' Toxic Reign: Former Teammate MyKayla Skinner Exposes Gymnastics Queen's Dark Side

In a shocking turn of events, Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles has been accused of being a bully by her former teammate MyKayla Skinner, who claims to have endured years of belittling and bullying at the hands of the gymnastics superstar. This explosive revelation comes just days after Biles apologized for comparing ex-swimmer Riley Gaines to a man in a personal attack on social media.

The drama began when Skinner spoke out about her own experiences with Biles, alleging that she was "ostracized behind the scenes" by the Olympic great during their time together as teammates from 2014 to 2020. The feud between the two gymnasts reached a boiling point last year at the Paris Games, where Biles took umbrage with Skinner's comments about the USA team's talent and depth.

Skinner had questioned how good her fellow teammates were, stating that "besides Simone, I feel like the talent and the depth just isn't like what it used to be." This sparked a fierce response from Biles, who posted a celebratory picture on Instagram with the caption "lack of talent, lazy, Olympic champions," in reference to Skinner's comments.

But Skinner's story doesn't end there. In a new interview with The Scholarly Note, she revealed that she has been subjected to years of bullying and belittling by Biles, which has left her feeling isolated and vulnerable.

"It's been really hard for me to speak out about this, but I feel like it's necessary," Skinner said, her voice trembling with emotion. "I've wanted to stay silent because Simone has a huge platform, but I think it's time to bring light to the issue of cyberbullying."

Skinner claims that she was bullied by Biles on multiple occasions throughout their careers, including during Olympic trials and training camps. She alleges that Biles would belittle her in front of other teammates and coaches, leaving her feeling humiliated and embarrassed.

"I've been belittled, dismissed, and ostracized by Simone," Skinner said, her eyes welling up with tears. "It's been really difficult for me to deal with, especially when it happened behind the scenes."

The drama took a shocking turn last year when Biles publicly blocked Skinner on social media, only to have US teammate Jordan Chiles share a picture of Biles holding her phone, showing that she had been blocked. Olympic gymnast McKayla Maroney even got involved, calling out Skinner and implying that she was the one who had "f'd around and found out."

But Skinner's story is far from over. She claims that after being publicly bullied by Biles and her teammates, she began to receive hateful threats and comments on social media, including messages targeting her family and daughter.

"I reached out to Simone personally, but I got no response," Skinner said, her voice shaking with anger. "I thought things would die down, but more happened throughout the Olympic games. It was really difficult for me to deal with."

Skinner's decision to speak out has been met with support from fans and fellow athletes who have reached out to her privately. But Biles remains silent on the issue, having not responded to Skinner's recent comments.

As the gymnastics world continues to grapple with the fallout of this shocking scandal, one thing is clear: Simone Biles' reign as a beloved Olympic champion has been marred by allegations of bullying and toxic behavior. Will she be able to recover from this dark cloud hanging over her head? Only time will tell.

Update: In response to Skinner's allegations, Biles' team has released a statement saying that the gymnast is "focused on competing" and "not engaging in any public disputes." But for MyKayla Skinner, the damage has already been done. She says she hopes to use her platform to bring attention to the issue of cyberbullying and help create a safer and more supportive community for athletes.

"I want to continue to help cyberbullying come to an end," Skinner said firmly. "I think it's time for us to take a stand against bullying and make our sport a more positive place for everyone."