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EXCLUSIVE: Former U.S. Olympians MyKayla Skinner and Nancy Hogshead have signed with activist sportswear brand XX-XY Athletics, aligning with the mission of advocating for the protection of women’s sports from biological male transgender athletes.
Skinner, who won silver on vault at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, raised the issue earlier this year and is now taking a tougher stance.
“I am delighted to partner with [XX-XY Athletics founder] Jennifer Sey and her pro-woman XX-XY Athletics to tell my story as an athlete and a woman,” Skiner told PK Press Club Digital.
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Mykayla Skinner and Simone Biles of Team USA pose for a photo during women’s podium training ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Ariake Gymnastics Center on July 22, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
“Finding my voice has been difficult – there’s no training for it. But every female athlete should find and use theirs. No one trains you to have moral courage or unwavering positivity – that’s a different kind of journey. I’m going to share that too. Why? Using my platform to be a positive role model for female athletes. But really, it’s for my daughter.”
Skinner joins the brand after speaking out against former teammate Simone Biles in June.
After Biles sparked a social media feud with former NCAA swimmer and OutKick host Riley Gaines for posting an article about a trans softball pitcher who won a Minnesota women’s state title, Skinner was quick to publicly side with Gaines. Skinner now joins the same brand championed by Gaines, who was the first brand ambassador for XX-XY Athletics when it launched in 2024.
“As an athlete who has dedicated years to a sport, I have always believed that true competition should elevate us – not diminish others. That’s why it’s deeply disturbing to see Simone Biles publicly call another athlete a ‘sore loser’ – simply for expressing valid concerns about fairness in women’s sports,” Skinner said in a June statement.
“I commend and appreciate Riley Gaines for having the courage to speak out. Throughout my own career, I have endured being belittled, dismissed and ostracized behind the scenes by Simone… It’s one thing to disagree. It’s another to use your platform to bully and demean… We should be lifting each other up, not tearing each other down for speaking harsh truths.”
SIMONE BILES DEFENDS HERSELF BY CALLING A FORMER TEAMMATE: “IT WAS RIGHT AT THIS MOMENT”
Meanwhile, Hogshead, a three-time Olympic gold medalist and silver medalist, is the founder of Champion Women and the Women’s Sports Policy Working Group. She is the author of a petition to protect the women’s category with more than 500 signatures.
Nancy Hogshead-Makar, senior director of advocacy for the Women’s Sports Foundation, attends the 40 For 40, 40 Years of Title IX, 40 Women Who Have Made an Impact event, at the JW Marriott Hotel in Washington, DC, June 21, 2012. (Larry Busacca/Getty Images for WICT)
Today, Hogshead joins XX-XY Athletics as its first Olympic gold medalist brand ambassador.
“Only strong eligibility standards for women’s and girls’ sports can ensure fair, safe and respectful competition for us,” Hogshead told PK Press Club Digital. “More than 500 Olympians and Paralympians are advancing the cause by signing the Women’s Champions petition; they understand the dedication required to succeed and strongly support future generations of athletes by advocating for a level playing field for all.”
The two medalists headline the brand’s new campaign, “The Gold Medal Collection.” The campaign features other Team USA talent, including taekwondo athlete Jaycee Bassett, triathlete Shannon Grady and swimmer Réka György.
Former Olympic gymnast MyKayla Skinner with Simone Biles (left) and former Olympic swimmer Nancy Hogshead (right). (Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images, Tony Duffy/Allsport/Getty Images)
“As an athlete who trains to be the best in the world, I admire women like Nancy and MyKayla, who have paved the way,” Bassett told PK Press Club Digital.
“But I also know that it is up to my generation to speak up and protect the path. Every hour I have spent training has been to measure myself against the best female athletes in the world. If I am ever asked to compete against a man, I will refuse. The integrity of competition is based on a level playing field for every female athlete who invests their time, dedication and sacrifice in their pursuit of excellence.”
