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Simone Biles has become a powerful advocate for her teammates throughout Paris Olympics and she explains why it’s important to use her voice to defend them.
Simone Biles, 27, has taken the world by storm during the 2024 Paris Olympics, not only with her formidable gymnastic performances but also by standing up fiercely for her teammates. Amidst the triumphant gold wins for Team USA, a public clash unfolded between Biles and former teammate MyKayla Skinner, rooted in Skinner’s past remarks about the team’s work ethic.
Biles’ leadership role and her voice have been pivotal throughout the Games. “It’s important because you have to teach them to use their voices,” Biles told PEOPLE on August 6 after Skinner asked Biles to help stop the mean comments directed her. “And if not, you’re a voice for the voiceless, which is OK.”
Biles’ advocacy became particularly significant when she responded to Skinner’s derogatory comments. Skinner had criticized the “talent” and “work ethic” of this year’s Team USA in a since-deleted YouTube video, labeling the squad as lazy.
Biles, who along with Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey, and Hezly Rivera won gold in the team finals, retorted with a post of the team captioned, “Lack of talent, lazy, olympic champions [love] 🇺🇸.”
This social media spar prompted Skinner to feel beleaguered by backlash yet again. Skinner conveyed in a tearful Instagram video that her initial comments were misunderstood and that she had issued apologies.
She further requested Biles to curb the “cyberbullying” directed at her. “To Simone, I am asking you directly and publicly to please put a stop to this,” Skinner pleaded. “Please ask your followers to stop. You have been an incredible champion for mental health awareness and a lot of people need your help now.”
The situation highlights Biles’ unwavering commitment to her teammates’ well-being. She articulated that “for somebody to stand up, I know it meant a lot for [my teammates].”
The gymnast’s return to the Olympics has been remarkable, particularly after the mental toll and “twisties” that impacted her during the 2020 Tokyo Games. She credits therapy for her resurgence. “Putting in that therapy and that mental work meant everything to me and it was much needed,” she revealed.
Yet, the tension with Skinner added a complex layer to her Olympic journey. Skinner, asking for an end to hostilities, aligned her message with a call for unity and support within Team USA. “Your performance, the team’s performance, and the Olympics in general should be a time that we support one another and lift our country up,” she stated.
As the Paris Olympics conclude, Biles’ journey continues to exemplify resilience and advocacy. Her leadership, both on and off the stage, remains a testament to her strength – and to the realities of navigating public life under the global spotlight.
