Listen to Fox News Articles: Former Olympians Advocate for Women’s Sports with XX-XY Athletics
In a bold move, former U.S. Olympic gymnasts MyKayla Skinner and Nancy Hogshead have teamed up with the activist sportswear brand XX-XY Athletics. Their partnership emphasizes the importance of protecting women’s sports from the participation of biological male transgender athletes. Skinner, who earned a silver medal in vault at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, has been vocal about this issue and is now taking a stronger stance.
"I am thrilled to collaborate with Jennifer Sey, the founder of XX-XY Athletics, to share my story as an athlete and a woman," Skinner shared with Fox News Digital. "Finding my voice has been a challenge—there’s no training for that. But I believe every female athlete should embrace and express hers. Moral courage and unwavering positivity require their own journey, and I want to use my platform to be a positive role model for female athletes, especially for my daughter."
Skinner’s commitment to this cause follows her public support of former NCAA swimmer and OutKick host Riley Gaines, who found herself in a social media dispute with fellow gymnast Simone Biles over fairness in women’s sports. Skinner quickly aligned herself with Gaines after Biles referred to her as a "sore loser" for raising valid concerns regarding competition equality.
"As an athlete who has dedicated years to my sport, I believe that true competition should uplift us, not undermine others," Skinner stated in June. "It’s disheartening to see Simone Biles attacking a fellow female athlete for expressing legitimate worries about fairness. I commend Riley Gaines for her courage, as I have experienced being belittled and ostracized by Simone. Disagreement is one thing, but using your platform to bully is another. We should be supporting each other, not tearing each other down for speaking tough truths."
On the other hand, Hogshead, a three-time Olympic gold medalist and founder of Champion Women and the Women’s Sports Policy Working Group, has taken significant steps to advocate for women’s sports. She has authored a petition to protect the women’s category, which has garnered over 500 signatures from fellow Olympians and Paralympians.
"Only strict eligibility standards for girls’ and women’s sports can ensure fair, safe, and respectful competition," Hogshead commented. "More than 500 Olympians and Paralympians support Champion Women’s petition, recognizing the dedication required to succeed and advocating for a level playing field for future generations of female athletes."
Skinner and Hogshead are the faces of the brand’s new campaign, "The Gold Medal Collection," which features other talented Team USA athletes, including Taekwondo competitor Jaycee Bassett, triathlete Shannon Grady, and swimmer Réka György.
"As an athlete striving to be the best, I look up to trailblazers like Nancy and MyKayla," Bassett told Fox News Digital. "However, it’s our generation’s responsibility to protect this path. Every hour of training is about competing against the best female athletes. If I’m ever asked to compete against a male, I will refuse. The integrity of competition relies on maintaining a level playing field for every female athlete who dedicates her time and effort to her pursuit of excellence."
For the latest in sports news and updates, follow Fox News Digital on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter. Jackson Thompson, a seasoned sports writer for Fox News Digital, has previously contributed to ESPN and Business Insider and has covered major events like the Super Bowl and NBA Finals, interviewing iconic athletes along the way.
