Simone Biles will always stand up for Team USA. The 27-year-old gymnast discussed how she has her teammates’ backs during a new interview after closing out her third Olympic Games.
“It’s important because you have to teach them to use their voices,” she told PEOPLE in an interview published earlier this week. “And if not, you’re a voice for the voiceless, which is OK.”
As the “team lead” and the eldest player on the team, Simone pointed out that it “just felt like it was right in that moment to stand up for them, because they’re so young and they haven’t fully stood in their power yet.”
Oh she ENDED Mykayla Skinner pic.twitter.com/E594MNPhsO
— Ryan Roberts HC era (@chrisovitina) July 31, 2024
Although she didn’t specify what exactly she defended her teammates — Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey, Suni Lee and Hezly Rivera — against, Simone’s comment was made the same day that MyKayla Skinner publicly asked her to “stop” her fans from harassing the former Olympian.
“I am asking you directly and publicly to please put a stop to this,” MyKayla, 27, said in an Instagram video earlier this week. “Please ask your followers to stop. … Watching people cheer on the bullying is disgusting.”
MyKayla was referring to the vitriol she has seen from online users over comments she previously made about the current generation of gymnasts. In June, the 2020 vault silver medalist appeared in a video, criticizing the “talent” and “work ethic” of the athletes compared to those from the past under former Team USA coordinator Márta Károlyi. Upon receiving backlash from fans, MyKayla publicly apologized, but Simone seemingly clapped back at her former teammate in an Instagram post after Team USA won the gold medal.
