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EXCLUSIVE: Former U.S. women’s Olympians MyKayla Skinner and Nancy Hogshead have signed with activist sportswear brand XX-XY Athletics, aligned with the mission of advocating for the protection of women’s sports from biologically male transgender athletes.
Skinner, who won silver in diving at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, spoke out about the issue earlier this year and is now taking a tougher stance.
“I am excited to collaborate 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 Pakinomist Digital.
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Mykayla Skinner and Simone Biles of Team United pose for a photo during the women’s podium practice 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 hard – there’s no training for it. But every female athlete should find and use theirs. No one trains you for moral courage or unwavering positivity – it’s a different kind of journey. I want to share that too. Why? To use my platform to be a positive role model for female athletes. But really, this is for my daughter.”
Skinner joins the brand after previously speaking out against her former teammate Simone Biles back in June.
After Biles ignited a social media feud with former NCAA swimmer and OutKick host Riley Gaines for writing about a trans softball pitcher winning a Minnesota girls state title, Skinner was quick to publicly side with Gaines. Skinner now joins the same brand championed by Gaines, who was XX-XY Athletics’ first brand ambassador when it launched in 2024.
“As an athlete who has dedicated years to a sport, I’ve always believed that true competition should lift us up — not diminish others. That’s why it’s deeply troubling to see Simone Biles publicly label a female athlete a ‘sore loser’ — simply to express 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 up. Throughout my own career, I’ve 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 belittle… We should lift each other up with hard truths – not tear each other down.”
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Meanwhile, Hogshead, a three-time Olympic gold and silver medalist, is the founder of Champion Women and the Women’s Sports Policy Working Group. She has authored a petition to protect the women’s category with over 500 signatures.
Nancy Hogshead-Makar, Women’s Sports Foundation senior director of advocacy, attends the 40 For 40 Event, 40 Years of Title IX, 40 Women Who Have Made an Impact at the JW Marriott Hotel in Washington, DC, on June 21, 2012. (Larry Busacca/Getty Images for WICT)
Now, Hogshead joins XX-XY Athletics as the brand’s first Olympic gold medalist brand ambassador.
“Only strict eligibility standards for girls and women’s sports can guarantee fair, safe and respectful competition for us,” Hogshead told Pakinomist Digital. “More than 500 Olympians and Paralympians are playing it forward by signing the Champion Women’s petition; they understand the dedication required to succeed and firmly support future generations of athletes by advocating for a level playing field for all.”
The two medal winners 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 look up to women like Nancy and MyKayla who have paved the way,” Bassett told Pakinomist Digital.
“But I also know it’s up to my generation to speak up and protect the trail. Every hour I’ve spent training has been to test myself against the best female athletes in the world. If I’m ever asked to compete against a man, I will refuse. The integrity of competition depends on a level playing field for every female athlete who invests her time, dedication and pursuit of her skill.”
