Olympians MyKayla Skinner and Nancy Hogshead Unite with XX-XY Athletics to Advocate for Women’s Sports

Olympians MyKayla Skinner and Nancy Hogshead Unite with XX-XY Athletics to Advocate for Women’s Sports

EXCLUSIVE: Former U.S. women’s Olympians MyKayla Skinner and Nancy Hogshead have joined forces with the activist sportswear brand XX-XY Athletics. Their collaboration emphasizes the importance of advocating for the protection of women’s sports from the participation of biological male transgender athletes.

MyKayla Skinner, who earned a silver medal in vault during the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, has been increasingly vocal about this topic. Earlier this year, she started to address the challenges women face in sports and has taken an even stronger stance through her partnership with XX-XY Athletics.

In a recent statement to Fox News Digital, Skinner expressed her enthusiasm for her collaboration with Jennifer Sey, the founder of XX-XY Athletics. She shared her motivation for joining the brand, stating, “I am excited to partner with Jennifer Sey and her pro-woman XX-XY Athletics to tell my story as an athlete and a woman.”

Finding her voice has not been straightforward. Skinner added, “Every female athlete should find and use hers. No one trains you for moral courage or unwavering positivity — that’s a different kind of journey. I’m going 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.”

Her decision to align with XX-XY Athletics follows her public disagreement with former teammate Simone Biles. The feud erupted after Biles publicly criticized Riley Gaines, a former NCAA swimmer and OutKick host, for her comments about a transgender athlete who won a Minnesota girls’ state title. Skinner publicly sided with Gaines, who was XX-XY Athletics’ first brand ambassador when the company launched in 2024.

Skinner articulated her beliefs regarding fair competition in women’s sports, saying, “As an athlete who has dedicated years to a sport, I’ve always believed that true competition should elevate us — not diminish others. It’s deeply troubling to see Simone Biles publicly label a fellow female athlete a ‘sore loser’—simply for expressing valid concerns about fairness in women’s sports.”

She praised Riley Gaines for her courage to speak up, stating, “Throughout my own career, I 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 one another down for speaking hard truths.”

Hogshead, a renowned three-time Olympic gold medalist and silver medalist, also joins the XX-XY Athletics team. She is the founder of Champion Women and the Women’s Sports Policy Working Group. Hogshead has recently authored a petition advocating for the protection of the women’s category in sports, which has garnered over 500 signatures.

As the first Olympic gold medal brand ambassador for XX-XY Athletics, Hogshead emphasizes the need for strict eligibility standards in women’s sports. In her words, “Only strict eligibility standards for girls’ and women’s sports can guarantee fair, safe, and respectful competition for us. More than 500 Olympians and Paralympians understand the dedication required to succeed and firmly support future generations of athletes by advocating for a level playing field for all.”

The collaboration comes as the two medalists head the brand’s new campaign called the Gold Medal Collection. This initiative showcases other Team USA talents, including Taekwondo athlete Jaycee Bassett, triathlete Shannon Grady, and swimmer Réka György.

Jaycee Bassett expressed admiration for her fellow Olympians, saying, “As an athlete training to be the best in the world, I look up to women like Nancy and MyKayla, who’ve paved the way. But I also know it’s on my generation to speak up and protect the path. 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 male, I’ll refuse. The integrity of competition relies on a level playing field for every female athlete that invests her time, dedication, and sacrifice in her pursuit of excellence.”

Skinner and Hogshead’s partnership with XX-XY Athletics marks a significant moment in the ongoing conversation around fairness in women’s sports. Their commitment to advocating for female athletes resonates beyond their personal achievements and reflects broader societal issues concerning equality and representation in athletics.

The stories of these two remarkable athletes highlight the importance of standing up for one’s beliefs. By teaming up with XX-XY Athletics, Skinner and Hogshead are not only promoting their cause but also inspiring upcoming generations of female athletes worldwide. Their efforts could potentially shift the narrative around inclusivity and fairness within sports.

Stay informed with ongoing developments in sports as we follow the journey of MyKayla Skinner and Nancy Hogshead in their collaboration with XX-XY Athletics and their advocacy for women in competitive sports.