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MyKayla Skinner opens up on joining 'Save Women's Sports' movement after Simone Biles feud

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Wednesday, October 22nd 2025 at 7:03 GMT by Fox News
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Mykayla Skinner, a former U.S. national champion and 2016 Olympic team member, has taken a bold step into the national conversation about the future of women’s gymnastics. In a recent interview with Fox News, Skinner revealed that she has officially joined the Save Women’s Sports movement—a grassroots coalition that advocates for policies designed to preserve what its members describe as a "fair playing field" for female athletes. The announcement followed a public disagreement with Olympic gold‑medalist Simone Biles over the latter’s recent remarks about the status of women’s gymnastics.

A Rising Star on the Beam

Skinner first entered the spotlight in 2014 when she won the senior national all‑around title and went on to claim gold on the uneven bars at the 2015 U.S. National Championships. The gymnast earned her place on the 2016 Rio Olympic team, becoming the youngest member of the squad at age 15. Skinner’s career was interrupted by a shoulder injury that forced her to miss the 2019 U.S. Championships and the 2020 Tokyo Olympic team. She made a comeback attempt in 2021, but ultimately decided to retire from elite competition to focus on her education and a new venture in coaching.

Despite the setbacks, Skinner remains a passionate advocate for the sport. In 2022, she launched her own YouTube channel and social media brand to keep fans updated on her journey. She also joined the board of the Women’s Gymnastics Foundation, a nonprofit that works to promote female athleticism and education.

The Feud with Simone Biles

The disagreement with Biles began after Biles posted a heartfelt Instagram story in June 2023 that highlighted her experience of an injury that “left me feeling powerless.” In the same story, Biles posted a photo of Skinner’s 2015 bar routine and wrote, “This was one of my favorite moments,” and “We’re all in this together.” Skinner interpreted Biles’ comments as a subtle criticism of her own handling of her injury, and felt that Biles’ “we’re all in this together” phrasing implied a lack of accountability for her own mistakes. In a subsequent press release, Skinner said, “I appreciate Simone’s support, but I cannot ignore the fact that her narrative is often shaped by a narrative that does not consider the unique challenges women face.”

The tension escalated when Biles publicly praised the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s gymnastics. Skinner responded in a statement that she would not stand by while the sport she loved was "being taken away from women." She also announced that she would join Save Women’s Sports in a public capacity.

What Is Save Women’s Sports?

Save Women’s Sports (SWS) is a coalition of former athletes, coaches, and sports advocates that was founded in 2022. The organization’s mission is to lobby for policies that it says will protect women’s sports from perceived unfairness caused by transgender athletes. According to SWS, the group works with lawmakers to develop "women’s sports protection acts" that would require proof of biological sex for athletes who wish to compete in women’s competitions. The organization argues that trans inclusion creates an uneven playing field that threatens opportunities for cisgender women.

SWS’s website lists several policy proposals, including:

• Legislation requiring athletes to submit a "sex verification" certificate to compete in women's sports
• State-level laws banning trans athletes from competing in women's collegiate and professional sports
• Funding for "female-only" sports programs in schools and community leagues

The organization claims that it is not anti-transgender; rather, it is a "pro‑women's sports" initiative that focuses on fairness and opportunity. Critics have called the proposals discriminatory and biologically flawed. The American Medical Association and the International Olympic Committee have both issued statements that emphasize the importance of inclusion and the need to rely on science for policy decisions.

Skinner’s Role in the Movement

Skinner’s decision to join SWS comes at a time when women's sports are under intense public scrutiny. In addition to her public statements, she will help the organization coordinate a series of webinars, letter‑writing campaigns, and social media advocacy. Skinner has also committed to speaking at local and national conferences, using her platform to highlight what she believes are the unique challenges that female athletes face.

In an interview, Skinner said, “I have been part of this sport for as long as I can remember. I’ve seen how difficult it can be to break into the national team, to maintain sponsorships, and to keep a career going. My voice is needed in this conversation because I’ve lived it. I’m proud to stand for the future of women’s gymnastics.”

She also highlighted that her departure from elite competition left her with a sense of unfinished business. “I want to do something that protects the dreams of future gymnasts,” she added. “I think the best way to do that is to speak out about fairness.”

The Broader Conversation

The feud between Skinner and Biles, and the subsequent support of SWS, has triggered a debate that extends far beyond gymnastics. The conversation touches on questions of gender identity, the scientific basis for sports divisions, and how best to preserve competitive equity. The policy proposals put forward by SWS have garnered support from certain state legislators, who have introduced bills in Texas, Florida, and other states to restrict trans athletes from women's competition.

On the other hand, national and international sports governing bodies—including the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and the International Gymnastics Federation—have reaffirmed their commitment to inclusion. The U.S. Olympic Committee released a statement emphasizing the need to protect the integrity of competition while upholding the rights of all athletes. The International Gymnastics Federation, meanwhile, announced a review of its policies on athlete inclusion.

In the midst of this polarizing debate, Skinner’s voice adds a personal dimension to the arguments about what is at stake. By leveraging her status as a former Olympian and her current platform, she is helping to shape the narrative about what it means to protect women’s sports from an evolving landscape of gender identity.

Looking Ahead

Skinner has scheduled a series of public events in the coming months to raise awareness about SWS’s mission. She will be speaking at a women's sports conference in New York in July, and has already announced a virtual town‑hall meeting where she will discuss her experiences in gymnastics and how those experiences have influenced her stance on inclusion. Meanwhile, the SWS organization has expressed its appreciation for Skinner’s willingness to be a public advocate and has pledged to provide her with resources to help her amplify her message.

The intersection of sports, politics, and identity is an area that continues to evolve. Skinner’s involvement signals that former athletes will continue to play an active role in shaping the conversation, and that the debate over fairness in women's sports is far from settled. As the discussion heats up, the next months will likely see new legislative proposals, more public statements from athletes, and a broader dialogue about how best to reconcile the ideals of inclusion with the desire to protect athletes’ opportunities.