![\"MyKayla](\"https:\/\/hollywoodlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/GettyImages-1330129868_e424c2-e1722429718518.jpg?quality=100&w=384&h=216&crop=1\")
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Simone Biles<\/strong><\/a> will always defend her teammates. While embracing Team USA\u2019s epic victory on Tuesday, July 30, at the Paris Olympic Games, the 27-year-old gymnastics GOAT shared a celebratory photo to her Instagram<\/a> \u2014 and fans are convinced that her caption referred to MyKayla Skinner<\/strong><\/a>\u2018s past comments about the team.<\/p>\n \u201cLack of talent, lazy, olympic champions,\u201d Simone captioned her post.<\/p>\n Fellow gymnast<\/a> and friend McKayla Maroney<\/strong> <\/a>seemingly confirmed the subtle diss toward MyKayla, 27, by commenting on the athlete\u2019s caption, \u201cIt doesn\u2019t get more iconic than this,\u201d McKayla, 28, wrote. \u201cShe f\u2019d around n found out fr [sic]. Feels like I need to apologize just to redeem my first name.\u201d<\/p>\n McKayla was also referencing the hilarious nickname that Team USA chose for themselves, which is \u201cF**k around and find out.\u201d<\/p>\n Countless fans swarmed the comments section to point out the possible clapback against MyKayla. One commenter wrote, \u201cLol she\u2019s probably so jealous that you guys won.\u201d Another chimed in, \u201cThis is the caption! I feel like you\u2019ve been saving this one for a few weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n Last month, a video of MyKayla criticizing the U.S. Olympic team surfaced online.<\/p>\n \u201cBesides Simone, I feel like the talent and the depth just isn\u2019t like what it used to be,\u201d the athlete said. \u201cJust notice like, I mean, obviously a lot of girls don\u2019t work as hard. The girls just don\u2019t have the work ethic.\u201d<\/p>\n MyKayla went on to say that \u201cCoaches can\u2019t get on athletes, and they have to be really careful what they say.\u201d<\/p>\n Part 1: The gymnastics community cannot let these comments to be swept under the rug. I will be as respectful as possible to @mykaylaskinner<\/a> but instead of engaging in meaningful conversation she blocks anyone who holds her accountable for her words. pic.twitter.com\/Y69pwCxnUG<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Riley (@gymguyri) July 3, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n The athlete later clarified the meaning of her comments via a July 3 Instagram Stories message. In the note, MyKayla pointed out that her statement \u201cwasn\u2019t always necessarily about the current team because I love and support all the girls that made it and I\u2019m so proud of them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was more about going back into my own gym, just the work ethic is different compared to when we were doing gymnastics in the [previous team coach] M\u00e1rta<\/strong> [K\u00e1rolyi<\/strong>] era,\u201d she added. \u201cAnd I\u2019m not sticking up for M\u00e1rta or saying what she did was good, I\u2019m just saying it was different. So anyway, sorry for anything that got out of context or seemed hurtful. That is never my intention. And seriously, throughout the video, I was so pumped for the girls, and it was so fun watching trials and doing a live with everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n In a statement obtained by PEOPLE<\/em><\/a>, MyKayla formally apologized<\/a> to both Team USA and the gymnastics community for her comments.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was not my intention to offend or disrespect any of the athletes or to take away from their hard work,\u201d she insisted in her statement. \u201cYour hard work and dedication has paid off, and I congratulate each and every one of you.\u00a0Upon reflection, I was comparing the \u2018Marta Era\u2019 to the current era. I am coming to terms that I have not fully dealt with the emotional and verbal abuse I endured under Marta that perhaps led to my hurtful comments. I take full responsibility for what I said and I deeply apologize. It is most important to me that the sport I love continue down the path of healing and ensures a positive environment for all. I wish you all the very best in Paris. I will be cheering you all on! Go Team USA!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![\"US'](\"https:\/\/hollywoodlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/GettyImages-2163935272_effaf7.jpg?quality=100&w=1024\")
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