History of MyKayla Skinner in Timeline
MyKayla Skinner Harmer is a retired American artistic gymnast known for her powerful vaulting. She won a silver medal on vault at the 2020 Olympics and a bronze on the same apparatus at the 2014 World Championships, where she also earned team gold. Skinner was an alternate for the 2016 Olympic team. Collegiately, she achieved success with the University of Utah, winning two NCAA championships and setting multiple Pac-12 records.
December 9, 1996: Birth of MyKayla Skinner
MyKayla Brooke Skinner Harmer was born on December 9, 1996. This marks the beginning of her journey as a future Olympic gymnast.
2011: Attends Higley High School
MyKayla Skinner began attending Higley High School as a freshman in 2011.
2011: Junior All-Around Champion at American Classic
MyKayla Skinner claims the junior individual all-around championship at the 2011 American Classic, a significant early achievement in her gymnastics career.
2012: Senior-Level Debut and City of Jesolo Trophy Victory
MyKayla Skinner becomes eligible for senior-level competition and joins the U.S. senior national team in 2012. She contributes to the team's victory at the City of Jesolo Trophy, marking a successful transition to a higher level of competition.
2012: Transitions to Homeschooling
MyKayla Skinner transitioned from attending Higley High School to homeschooling in 2012.
2013: Success at Fiesta Bowl and P&G Championships
MyKayla Skinner delivers a strong performance at the Fiesta Bowl, winning every individual event except for the floor exercise. She continues her success at the P&G Championships, securing podium finishes in vault and floor exercise and a top-ten finish in the all-around competition.
November 2014: Signing with the University of Utah Red Rocks
MyKayla Skinner signs a National Letter of Intent to join the University of Utah's renowned Red Rocks gymnastics program. This decision reflects her commitment to collegiate gymnastics and her pursuit of academic and athletic excellence.
2014: World Championship Gold and Individual Bronze
MyKayla Skinner achieves success at the 2014 World Championships, contributing to the U.S. team's gold medal victory and securing an individual bronze medal in the vault event.
2014: Dominance at City of Jesolo Trophy and Pan American Championships
MyKayla Skinner shines at the City of Jesolo Trophy, helping the U.S. team win gold and securing individual gold medals in vault and floor exercise. Her success continues at the Pan American Championships, where she wins the individual all-around title and contributes to the U.S. team's first-place finish.
April 2015: Deferring Enrollment for Olympic Pursuit
MyKayla Skinner decides to defer her enrollment at the University of Utah to focus on her training for the 2016 Olympics. This decision highlights her unwavering commitment to her Olympic aspirations and her willingness to prioritize her gymnastics career.
July 25, 2015: Performance at the U.S. Classic
On July 25, 2015, MyKayla Skinner competes at the U.S. Classic, showcasing her skills across various gymnastics apparatus. She achieves a notable second-place finish on vault, demonstrating her strength in the event.
2015: Alternate for the 2015 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships
MyKayla Skinner is named an alternate for the USA team at the 2015 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, highlighting her continued presence among the country's top gymnasts.
2015: Silver Medal at the AT&T American Cup
MyKayla Skinner secures a silver medal at the prestigious AT&T American Cup, finishing behind the dominant Simone Biles.
2016: Controversy over Social Media Post
After being named an alternate for the 2016 Olympics, MyKayla Skinner sparked controversy by retweeting a photo of the U.S. team with her image replacing Gabby Douglas's, accompanied by racist emojis.
2016: Medals at the U.S. National Championships
MyKayla Skinner delivers a strong performance at the 2016 U.S. National Championships, winning a silver medal on vault and a bronze medal on floor exercise. Her performance earns her an invitation to the U.S. Olympic Trials, a significant step towards her Olympic aspirations.
2016: Successful Freshman Season at the University of Utah
MyKayla Skinner embarks on a stellar freshman season at the University of Utah, winning numerous events and earning accolades such as PAC-12 champion in the all-around, vault, and floor exercise. She also makes history as one of the few gymnasts in NCAA history to perform a Silivas.
2016: Alternate for the 2016 Olympic Team
MyKayla Skinner finishes fourth in the all-around competition at the Olympic Trials and is named an alternate for the 2016 Olympic team. Although she does not compete in the Olympics, her selection as an alternate confirms her status as one of the top gymnasts in the United States.
2016: Commitment to the 2016 Olympics
MyKayla Skinner remains determined to compete at the 2016 Olympics, showcasing her dedication to representing the United States on the world stage.
2018: Perfect Season and NCAA Championship Success
MyKayla Skinner achieves a remarkable feat by hitting all of her routines without a fall during the 2018 season. She continues to excel at the NCAA Championships, winning a silver medal in the all-around competition and tying for first place on vault.
April 25, 2019: Return to Elite Gymnastics
MyKayla Skinner makes a comeback to elite gymnastics on April 25, 2019, with the goal of competing at the 2020 Olympics. This decision marks her determination to return to the highest level of competition.
October 16, 2019: Engagement to Jonas Harmer
MyKayla Skinner announced her engagement to Jonas Harmer, whom she met at the University of Utah, on October 16, 2019.
November 14, 2019: Marriage to Jonas Harmer
MyKayla Skinner and Jonas Harmer were married on November 14, 2019.
2019: U.S. National Championships and National Team Selection
MyKayla Skinner competes in all events at the 2019 U.S. National Championships, securing a top-ten finish and earning a spot on the national team. This accomplishment highlights her successful comeback to elite gymnastics.
2019: U.S. World Championships Trials and Alternate Selection
MyKayla Skinner finishes fourth in the all-around competition at the U.S. World Championships trials. Her performance earns her the position of alternate for the 2019 World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany, further solidifying her place among the top gymnasts in the country.
2019: Return to Elite Competition at the U.S. Classic
MyKayla Skinner makes her return to elite competition at the 2019 U.S. Classic. She ties for second place on vault, showcasing her continued strength in the event.
March 2020: Success at the International Gymnix Meet
MyKayla Skinner contributes significantly to the U.S. team's gold medal win at the International Gymnix meet in Montreal in March 2020. She demonstrates her versatility and skill by winning individual gold medals in vault, uneven bars, and floor exercise.
2020: Aiming for the 2020 Olympics
MyKayla Skinner sets her sights on the 2020 Olympics, demonstrating her dedication to representing the United States at the prestigious event.
2020: Olympic Silver Medalist
MyKayla Skinner wins an Olympic silver medal in gymnastics at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Notably, she competed as an individual, showcasing her exceptional skills on the world stage.
2020: Sunisa Lee's All-Around Victory
Sunisa Lee won the all-around title at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. This event was later referenced by MyKayla Skinner in her 2024 criticism of the Olympic team.
January 2021: Hospitalization from COVID-19 Pneumonia
MyKayla Skinner faces a setback in her training due to hospitalization from pneumonia, a result of contracting COVID-19. This event highlights the challenges athletes faced during the pandemic.
2021: U.S. Classic and Peacock Docuseries Feature
MyKayla Skinner returns to competition after recovering from pneumonia, winning the vault event at the U.S. Classic. She is also featured in the Peacock docuseries "Golden: The Journey of USA's Elite Gymnasts," providing insights into her journey as an elite athlete.
2021: Selection for the Tokyo Olympics
MyKayla Skinner secures her spot on the U.S. Olympic team for the Tokyo Olympics, competing as an individual in the non-nominative spot. This accomplishment marks a significant achievement in her career, realizing her goal of competing at the Olympic Games.
September 22, 2023: Birth of Daughter, Charlotte Jane
MyKayla Skinner and Jonas Harmer welcomed their daughter, Charlotte Jane, on September 22, 2023.
2024: Criticism of the Olympic Team
MyKayla Skinner faced backlash for criticizing the 2024 Olympic team in a since-deleted YouTube video, suggesting they lacked talent and work ethic compared to previous teams. She attributed this to the U.S. Center for SafeSport and Márta Károlyi's retirement. She was also accused of subtly criticizing Sunisa Lee's physique and performance and repeatedly mispronounced Hezly Rivera's name, drawing criticism from the gymnastics community, including Olympians and families.
