Former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines and Olympic gymnast MyKayla Skinner have voiced their support for a recent Supreme Court decision that upholds state laws protecting women's sports. The ruling has energized the "Save Women's Sports" movement, and Gaines and Skinner are using the moment to extend an invitation to Simone Biles, a former teammate of Skinner's, to join their cause.
The call to Biles comes more than a year after a public dispute on social media between Biles and Gaines regarding transgender athletes' participation in women's sports. Skinner, who has also had public disagreements with Biles, expressed her desire for the renowned gymnast to align with their advocacy.
"I think it would just be really cool to see Simone stand with us," Skinner said. "She’s one of the best athletes in the world." Skinner stated that seeing Biles join the movement would be impactful, especially for her own young daughter who she hopes to involve in sports.
Gaines, who has become a prominent voice advocating for policies that she believes preserve fairness in women's sports, reiterated her call for elite female athletes, including Biles, Caitlin Clark, and Sophie Cunningham, to publicly support their position.
"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 said. She described the Supreme Court's decision as vindicating and expressed optimism for the future of women's athletics.
The friction between Gaines and Biles initially escalated in June 2023 following Gaines' comments on a transgender softball player. Biles responded on social media, criticizing Gaines' stance. Skinner noted that Biles' past interactions with her had also involved what she described as belittling comments, suggesting that Biles' opposition to Gaines was not surprising.
Skinner stated her belief that Biles "stands firm" in her current views but expressed hope that she might reconsider. Gaines echoed this sentiment, suggesting that Biles' previous apology after the social media exchange may have been a reaction to public backlash, and that the Olympian might have been unaware of broader public opinion.
While Gaines stated she has accepted Biles' apology and would welcome collaboration, she also suggested that the public reaction to Biles' initial comments may have indicated a shift in public sentiment on the issue. Gaines believes that many elite athletes may be isolated within their own social circles and unaware of wider perspectives.
The Supreme Court's ruling does not mandate specific policies for all states or schools regarding transgender athletes. Instead, it affirmed the legality of state laws that establish bans or regulations on their participation in women's sports. For Gaines and Skinner, this decision represents a significant legal advancement for their advocacy efforts.