Skinner’s Journey from Olympic Silver to Advocacy

Mikayla Skinner played a crucial role in helping Team USA secure a silver medal in women’s gymnastics at the Tokyo Olympics after Simone Biles withdrew due to an injury. However, by the time of the Paris Games, she found herself facing harsh criticism from fans of USA Gymnastics.

On July 3, Skinner shared a video discussing the anticipated 2024 U.S. Olympic women’s gymnastics team, which contained some controversial remarks about the team’s “talent and depth.” This led to a significant backlash, not only from fans but also from former teammates. Biles, among others, responded in a social media post saying, “Not everyone needs a microphone or a platform.”

Later, Skinner expressed her regret for the comments, claiming she had been “misunderstood,” but the damage was done. The negative responses flooded her online accounts, leaving her feeling overwhelmed.

Skinner shared her experience, stating, “It was a really scary and difficult time with words being twisted and people saying things they didn’t mean. I love these girls more than anything, and the way they attacked me was very destructive.” At the time, she was also navigating the challenges of being a new mother.

“I was still breastfeeding and felt extremely depressed because I obviously said something wrong,” she reflected. “People were sending death threats, not just to me, but also to my agent. It was really tough.” Some critics even went as far as to say she “shouldn’t be a mother.”

She admitted that this barrage of negativity sent her into a downward spiral, further exacerbated by the fear of not being the mother her daughter needed. “It was terrifying to live with the feeling that the world hated me,” Skinner revealed.

Despite the turmoil, Skinner found a renewed sense of purpose in advocating for the protection of women’s sports. Recently, she joined XX-XY Athletics as an ambassador to launch the “Gold Medal Campaign,” aimed at promoting Olympian-themed apparel.

“I’ve always supported the need for protecting women’s sports,” Skinner commented. “It’s a tough subject, but I’ve definitely grown since that time of depression and isolation. Advocating for this has given me something to strive for, and talking about it has really helped.”

Her involvement emerged around June, coinciding with a public conflict spurred by conservative influencer Riley Gaines regarding transgender athletes in women’s sports. Gaines highlighted a contentious incident involving a biologically male athlete who won the Minnesota girls’ state championship. Just three months prior, she had reached out to Biles, seeking her support for XX-XY Athletics.

After Gaines drew attention to the issue on social media, Biles made a controversial reply, labeling Gaines as a “bully” and calling the statement “really sick.” Although Biles later retracted her words and apologized, Skinner had already decided to take a stand.

In her own post, Skinner expressed support for Gaines, who she described as being bullied by Biles. “Seeing Simone attack Riley broke my heart,” she said. “At that moment, I thought, ‘It’s time to find my voice and stand up for Riley.’”

Skinner suggested that while Biles is genuine in her support for transgender participation in women’s sports, she still hopes her former teammate might reconsider her stance. “I believe she believes in what she advocates,” Skinner stated. “But I hope she flips and joins us.”

This move marked a significant chapter in the ongoing disputes involving Gaines and Biles, and Skinner was prepared to face the backlash. “I received this wild letter with no return address,” she recalled. “It basically called for my downfall, offering unsolicited opinions on transgender issues, and telling me I was wrong.”

Such experiences have made Skinner cautious about speaking up on sensitive issues, including her previous hesitance to work with Gaines. “I’ve always been afraid to voice my opinions because gymnastics was a challenging and critical world. We were taught to be silent,” she shared.

Despite weighing the potential loss of support, she remained committed. “Honestly, money isn’t everything for me. If I have to seek endorsements somewhere else, I will,” Skinner affirmed.

Now aligned with Gaines and other advocates like Olympic swimmer Nancy Hogshead, Skinner is pushing for change in the arena of women’s sports. The founder of XX-XY Athletics, Jennifer Sey, indicated Skinner’s involvement is a major asset to the brand, bringing broader attention and support to their mission.

“It’s a big deal,” Sey remarked, emphasizing Skinner’s established reputation. “I receive messages daily from athletes feeling scared to support us. As more athletes come forward, fear will diminish, and we can begin to tackle these issues.”