Episode 78 - Jennifer Sey - Fairness and Integrity in Women's Sports

Sports Science Dudes

Jennifer Sey, a seven-time U.S. Women's National Team gymnast and 1986 All-Around National Champion, shares her incredible journey from elite athletics to corporate success at Levi Strauss and Company, and now, to founding XX-XY Athletics. Her story is one of resilience, candid advocacy for open schools during COVID-19, and a bold stance against what she considers woke antics in the apparel industry. Her commitment to protecting women's sports is both inspiring and thought-provoking.
From the physical toll of elite athletics to the evolving standards of body image in sports, Jennifer opens up about the realities behind the scenes. We discuss the severe strain on athletes, touching on her own experiences with injuries, and the shifting ideals of female athleticism from grace to power. Don't miss this compelling conversation on female sports.
About our guest: Jennifer Sey; she is an American author, filmmaker, business executive, and retired artistic gymnast. She was a seven-time member of the U.S. Women's National Team and was the 1986 U.S. Women's All-Around National Champion. Her first memoir, “Chalked Up,” was released in 2008 and detailed abuse in the sport of gymnastics. Sey also produced the 2020 Emmy-award winning documentary film, “Athlete A” on Netflix, which connected the crimes of Larry Nassar to the broader abuses in the Olympic movement.

Sey began working at Levi Strauss & Co. in 1999, rising to chief marketing officer and then Brand President. She was named one of Billboard’s Most Powerful People in Music and Fashion in 2016 and was twice named to Forbes’ Most Influential CMO list in 2019 and 2020.

Starting in 2020, she risked her reputation, community, and friendships to speak up against the harm being done to children by the extended closure of San Francisco’s public schools.

She resigned from Levi’s in 2022 and has been focused on her own writing and filmmaking projects. She has a documentary film in post-production called “Generation Covid” about the harms to children from prolonged school closures. And now she has her own brand, XX-XY Athletics. She is a mother of four and lives in Denver with her family.

Chapters

1. Gender Ideology and Women's Sports Debate (00:00:00)

2. Debate on Segregation in Sports (00:08:42)

3. Fair Competition in Sports Debate (00:14:18)

4. Transgender Athletes in Female Sports Debate (00:24:47)

5. Empathy, Body Positivity, and Health Implications (00:36:00)

6. Body Image and Athletic Performance (00:41:40)

7. Impact of Elite Athletes' Physical Strain (00:50:22)