A little over a year ago, an exchange on social media between Olympic gymnast Simone Biles and former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines sparked a major public discussion regarding the inclusion of transgender athletes in women's sports. Biles had criticized Gaines for her stance on a transgender pitcher who won a Minnesota girls' softball championship, reportedly stating, "bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a male." Now, more than a year later, Gaines has found a strong ally in MyKayla Skinner, a former U.S. Olympic gymnastics teammate of Biles. Both Gaines and Skinner recently celebrated the Supreme Court's decision to affirm state laws designed to protect women's sports, using the moment to send a direct message to Biles.
A Former Teammate's Plea
Skinner, an Olympic silver medalist in vault at the Tokyo Games, shared that Biles' previous public comments against Gaines deeply impacted her. "Just being able to try to find my voice and how I could use my voice after Simone had come out against Riley, it had really affected me," Skinner explained. As a mother, Skinner feels a personal connection to the issue. "I have a little daughter, and we are hoping to put her in sports soon, and I just really want her to have everything that I got to have, all the opportunities."
Her own extensive athletic journey, she noted, has shaped her perspective. "I’ve broken records, I’ve been an Olympian, I was a college athlete, and I want her to have the opportunities that I had," Skinner emphasized, referring to her daughter. She views her current advocacy as a crucial moment: "And so this, for me, was a way that I felt like this is the time for me to come up and stand for what I believe in, stand with Riley, and to join in on this fight."
Skinner then addressed Biles directly, expressing a desire for her support. "I think it would just be really cool to see Simone stand with us," Skinner stated, acknowledging Biles' stature. "She’s one of the best athletes in the world." Skinner hopes to see more elite female athletes join the movement, alongside figures like Gaines and Jennifer Sey, founder of XX-XY Athletics. "To be able to see her as my teammate, as an Olympian, as an amazing athlete that she is, to be able to stand with us and fight alongside Riley and everyone else on this road," Skinner elaborated. "I would just love, love to see my teams, especially Simone, in step with us."
Advocates Urge Elite Athletes to Join
Following Tuesday's Supreme Court ruling, Gaines reiterated her call for prominent female athletes, including Biles, WNBA star Caitlin Clark, and Sophie Cunningham, to align with their efforts. "Let this be a clarion call, not just to Simone, but to every, I think especially elite female athlete, professional female athlete, the likes of Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham, Serena Williams, to link arms," Gaines urged.
Gaines described feeling "absolutely vindicated" by the court's decision. "I feel, of course, excited, I feel optimistic about the future," she said. "But I think the feeling that I feel the most of is vindicated." As a mother, Gaines envisions a better world for her child. "Being a mom, I look at her and I think of the country and the world that I want her to inherit," she stated. "It’s a more fair, more safe, more prosperous, more opportunistic world, country." She concluded her appeal with a clear message: "Let it be known that you also think young girls are worthy of calling themselves champions one day."
Reflecting on Past Interactions and Future Hopes
The initial social media exchange proved to be a pivotal moment for Skinner. She subsequently joined XX-XY Athletics as an ambassador for its "Gold Medal Campaign," aligning herself with Gaines, Sey, Olympic swimmer Nancy Hogshead, and other notable advocates in the "Save Women’s Sports" movement.
When asked if she believed Biles genuinely meant her comments directed at Gaines last year, Skinner responded unequivocally. "100% yes," she affirmed. Skinner added, "I’ve known Simone since I was 13 years old, and we’ve had our moments. There’s times where she has belittled me as an athlete, as a person, bullied. And so this wasn’t a shock to me when she came out against Riley." While Skinner believes Biles "stands firm" in her current position, she expressed hope for a change of heart. "Being at this level and being a mom, we look up to these amazing athletes," Skinner commented. "I really think that she’s not on this side with us, and I really would love to see her come forward and maybe change her mind."
Gaines concurred that Biles' initial remarks likely reflected her true sentiments, suggesting that the subsequent apology seemed more like a public relations effort. "You could even notice the very obvious tone switch between the initial tweet or two and the very ChatGPT-coded apology," Gaines observed. Despite this, Gaines stated she accepted Biles’ apology and remains open to collaborating with the Olympic gymnastics icon. "That’s kind of like water off the duck’s back to me," she remarked.
Gaines also speculated that the negative reaction Biles received after her posts might indicate a broader cultural shift on the issue. "I think it took that for her to realize, ‘Oh dang, I think I was living in my own little bubble here,’" Gaines suggested. "Maybe the people I surrounded myself with think this, but majority of Americans don’t."
It is important to note that the Supreme Court’s recent decision does not compel all states or educational institutions to implement prohibitions on transgender athletes in girls’ and women’s sports. The court clarified that the cases before it did not address the distinct question of whether schools are permitted to allow biological males who identify as female to participate on girls’ and women’s teams. Nevertheless, for Gaines and Skinner, Tuesday’s ruling represents a significant legal triumph and another opportunity to press some of the most influential names in women's sports to take a definitive stance.
