MyKayla Skinner on Simone Biles, Riley Gaines, and Women's Sports Fairness

Support for Riley Gaines and Women's Sports

• 💡 Olympian MyKayla Skinner explains her decision to publicly support Riley Gaines amidst her dispute with Simone Biles.
• 🎯 Skinner felt compelled to speak out due to her own experiences with bullying and belittling, which resonated with Gaines' situation.
• 🚀 She advocates for fairness in women's sports, particularly concerning the inclusion of transgender athletes.

Past Conflicts with Simone Biles

• 🧠 Skinner recounts a difficult period last year where a short clip from a YouTube video was taken out of context, leading to widespread online attacks and even death threats.
• 💔 She describes feeling hurt and betrayed when Biles made public comments that seemed to target her, especially after personal conversations suggested reconciliation.
• 😔 The experience led to significant mental health struggles, causing her to withdraw from social media for months.

The Issue of Transgender Athletes in Sports

• ⚖️ Skinner emphasizes the physical differences between men and women, citing personal experiences with her husband and male athletes to illustrate why separate sports categories are necessary for fairness.
• 🗣️ She believes that while opinions on this issue are evolving, the majority of the public understands the need for fairness in women's sports.
• 🔒 Concerns extend beyond competition to include privacy issues like locker rooms, which she feels are not being adequately considered.

Moving Forward and Personal Growth

• 🌱 Skinner draws strength from her faith and her experiences, viewing them as opportunities for growth and advocacy.
• 💖 She has received significant positive feedback and encouragement for her stance, which motivates her to continue speaking out.
• 👧 With her own young daughter, Skinner is motivated to ensure fair opportunities in athletics for future generations of women.
• 💬 Regarding Simone Biles, Skinner expresses a desire to move on, cherishing past positive memories but acknowledging the past hurt and bullying that has impacted their relationship.