Simone Biles blocked by ex-teammate after social media clap-back Ronda Rousey loved and husband Jonathan Owens’ X-rated comment
Simone Biles says she has been blocked by former US gymnast Mykayla Skinner.
Biles picked up the first medal of her self-titled ‘redemption tour’ on Tuesday in Paris, winning the team gold alongside Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey and 16-year-old Hezley Rivera.
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Ronda Rousey led the way in responding to former US gymnast Mykayla Skinner - whose criticism of the US women’s gymnastics team promoted a fierce reaction after their stunning gold medal.
27-year-old Biles wasted little time in getting after Skinner too, who has deleted a much criticised YouTube video which was posted following the USA Olympics trials.
Skinner - who was alongside Biles at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics - took aim at this year’s team when she said that outside of Biles there was a lack of strength in the squad.
"Besides Simone, I feel like the talent and the depth just isn't like what it used to be. A lot of girls don't work as hard.
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"The girls just don't have the work ethic."
The response was perfect as Biles and her teammates bounced back from silver in Tokyo to win the team All-Around title for the third time in the last four Summer Games.
In a post on Instagram, Biles said simply "lack of talent, lazy, olympic champions " alongside a gold medal emoji, a heart and the American flag.
Skinner apologized for her comments, which she claimed had been misinterpreted and removed the video - which drew instant criticism from Biles and other gymnasts at the time.
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Now, the Team USA superstar appears to have revealed she has been blocked by Skinner.
Taking to X on Wednesday, Biles wrote: "oop I’ve been blocked."
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Biles and her Olympics teammates Chiles, Lee and Carey appeared to block Skinner on their social channels, too.
Skinner had also appeared to suggest that the US Center for SafeSport - the non-profit organization set up to protect minors and athletes in Olympic Sports - had a part to play: "It's hard too because of SafeSport.
"Coaches can't get on athletes and they have to be really careful what they say."
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A host of superstar names have queued up to sing the praises of Biles, while the likes of Serena Williams, Spike Lee, Jason Kelce and wife Kylie, Michael Phelps and the world’s number one male golfer Scottie Scheffler were all in attendance to watch Tuesday's gymnastics final.
Former UFC champion Rousey’s response was instant, with six clapping emojis in response to Biles thinly veiled attack on Skinner - who retired after the Tokyo Games three years ago.
Rousey has been a staunch supporter of Biles and back in 2021, when the US superstar withdrew from her event after suffering the ‘twisties’, she leapt to her defence.
Simone Biles celebrates Green Bay Packers win over Dallas Cowboys with husband Jonathan Owens
“Everyone judging @Simone_Biles doesn’t know their foot from their a–hole when it comes to being in her position,†she tweeted at the time.
“She’s on the Olympic team while you’re on Twitter. Whatever is going on cannot be grasped from outside. She’s doing the absolute best she can given the situation she’s in.â€
As well as Rousey, Biles husband Jonathan Owens - who has been given time off from the Chicago Bears training camp to watch his wife - was quick to offer his response
'F AROUND AND FIND OUT,' Owens posted in response to Biles' celebration picture, a reference to the woman of the hour joking about what the team should be known as. Owens, an NFL star, was also seen taking notes from the stands, while decked out in a t-shirt celebrating his wife.
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Biles is well placed for the ultimate response to her Tokyo disappointments.
She will take to the arena for the women’s individual All-Around event on Thursday, and is in three separate apparatus finals later in the week.
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