Simone Biles leads Team USA to Olympic gold amidst a social media showdown with former teammate MyKayla Skinner. Biles' Instagram post cleverly counters criticism, sparking global celebration and support from fellow gymnasts. The saga culminates in a powerful display of athletic prowess and resilience, reaffirming Biles' status as a champion on and off the mat.
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00:00In the high-stakes world of gymnastics, words can hit as hard as tumbles, and rivalries
00:06can be as intricate as routines.
00:10In a dramatic twist at the Paris Olympics, Simone Biles, a name synonymous with greatness
00:15in gymnastics, proved that actions speak louder than words, particularly when those actions
00:21include winning gold.
00:24On Tuesday, Team USA clinched the gold medal in the team competition, igniting celebrations
00:30across the globe, but it was Biles' Instagram that made headlines.
00:35Joining her teammates Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey, and Hesley Rivera, Biles wrote,
00:42"'Lack of talent, lazy, Olympic champions,' cheekily referencing criticism from former
00:48teammate Micaela Skinner.
00:51Skinner, who had retired after winning silver in the vault at the Tokyo Olympics, had dismissed
00:56the current team's talent and work ethic in a now-deleted YouTube video.
01:02Biles had taken issue with Skinner's comments, subtly addressing them earlier in July on
01:07threads with the remark, "'Not everyone needs a mic and a platform.'"
01:13Skinner had subsequently apologized on X, expressing regret for any offense caused and
01:18wishing the team well.
01:21Despite the apology, the tension remained palpable.
01:25As social media lit up with fans recognizing the reference, Biles' post was hailed as a
01:31triumphant response.
01:33Fellow gymnasts chimed in, including Suni Lee with a playful put a finger down if Simone
01:39Biles just ended you and Jordan Chiles asserting, and that's on period.
01:46Even former gymnasts like Nastia Liukin and Micaela Moroney lent their voices, with Liukin
01:52declaring it a mic drop moment and Moroney making a humorous nod to confusion between
01:58their similar names.
02:00The saga reached a crescendo when Biles revealed on X, "'I've been blocked.'"
02:06Chiles confirmed the assumption that Skinner was the blocker, posting a photo from Biles'
02:11phone with the caption, "'When she blocks Simone.'"
02:15In the end, the gymnastic skills on display transcended words, and the gold medal stood
02:20as a testament to the dedication and talent of the current U.S. team.
02:26Through a combination of athletic excellence and a masterful social media moment, Biles
02:31proved once again why she's a champion both on and off the mat.