Olympic silver medalist Mykayla Skinner Harmer has been vocal in support of former competitive swimmer Riley Gaines’ opposition to biological men competing in women’s sports.
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Hermer’s position was revealed after former teammate Simone Biles made headlines in recent weeks after she claimed she was “disgraced, rejected and exiled.”
Harmer and Biles are reportedly long history as friends and teammates, but Harmer said CBN news events have caused tension over the past few years. Most recently, Hermer issued a statement after Villes entered the viral back and forth with Gaines.
It all began when Biles hit Gaines with an X last month. The gymnast accused Gaines of “sickness,” and compared the former swimmer to a man, causing a fuss. Biles later apologized.
Harmer said looking at the entire scenario, she rewinds memories of her own virus problems into biles, similar to the bullying claims she faced. So she felt the need to make a statement through One America News.
“As an athlete who has devoted years of devoted to sports, I have always believed that true competition should boost us. “That’s why it’s deeply troubling to see Simone Biles publicly labeling fellow female athletes as ‘hard losers’.
Harmer told CBN News in an interview that she was a “large supporter of Riley Gaines,” and “although it may be scary to say it,” she has always praised Gaines’ stance.
“It really hit the closest home because I saw the bullying and just disrespect it, I went through the same thing that Riley had,” she said. “I knew what she was going through, so I thought this was the time I could stand up and become an advocate for those who were bullied.”
Harmer, who won a silver medal in the Women’s Vault when he replaced Biles at the 2020 Olympics, said it was a fitting time to talk about biological men playing in women’s sports.
A problem had previously been sparked between Harmer and Biles after Harmer made critical remarks about the work ethic of the 2024 US Olympic Women’s Gymnastics Team.
“I feel like apart from Simone, talent and depth aren’t the same as before,” Harmer said in a video at the time. “I mean, just realize that obviously a lot of girls aren’t working hard. Girls don’t have a work ethic.”
Harmer later contacted the team members and contacted Byles for an apology, and she and Byles exchanged fun things, but she later felt like Biles raised the issue again, bringing what Harmer described as confusion, threats and hatred from the public.
“I just started to get attacked more, and it’s like it just broke my heart,” she told CBN News. “I was so this is a time when you’re excited to have … represent your country and you guys have a team, then you’re going to take me to it. …It made me so sad.”
The blowback and confusion were so intense, Hermer said it would “crush” her dreams, making her feel like she didn’t want to see the Olympics again.
“I felt a lot of support from my side and my friends, but my mental health wasn’t in a good place,” she said. “I was starting to get dermatitis all over my face. It couldn’t work. I literally felt like I was in a black hole.”
She was able to eventually recover and move forward, but that wasn’t easy. Now she’s the others who stand up and support Gain and try to protect women’s sports. Despite the negative blow, Hermer has also seen positive tests.
“I’m very positive and a lot of people say they’re “I’m so happy that they’re supporting women in sports,” she said. “It literally makes me so happy.
Harmer continued. “I’m 21 months now (who is it) and we’re doing my gymnastics class with Mom and I want her to have a great career in track and field.
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