The Olympics are a series of competitions where you can watch people from all over the world showcase their talents. There's nothing more admirable than to watch the dedication, the self-confidence and the pride that each athlete exhibits throughout the competitions. While the majority of us focus on the athletes’ talents, there were a few instances when the world focused on things other than sports.
1. I am more than my hair (Gabby Douglas)
Have you seen the way Gabby Douglas performs? I mean, have you really seen her? She's amazing at what she does. How many people do you know that overcame childhood hardship and won their first gold medal at age 16, and to top it off, is still at the height of their career four years later? Exactly my point! This kind of achievement takes hard work, a lot of dedication, determination and developed skills. But instead of focusing on her accomplishments, a small number of people still manage to overlook all of the above and focus on something as minuscule as her hair. Have we not learned anything from India Arie's "I Am Not My Hair" song? If having a hairstyle that some don't agree with is the price to pay in order to be a badass, then I'm ready to sacrifice the esthetic of my hair tomorrow.
So proud of you, Gabby.
2. An Inspiring story (Alexa Moreno)
At 22 years old, Alexa Moreno is one of the few athletes to represent Mexico. That alone deserves a round of applause. Since she was three, Alexa has been training for one of the world's most competitive sports, gymnastics. Yet, the focus wasn't on her amazing skills or the fact that she broke the stereotype by proving to the world that curvy women can be just as amazing at gymnastics as anyone else. No, instead some people made the conscious decision to body-shame her on Twitter. However, the highlight of this story is the overwhelming outpour of support the young athlete received from all of her fans.
For more about Alexa Moreno's inspiring story, check out this short video.
3. And off he goes (Robel Kiros Habte)
24-year-old Robel Kiros Habte competed in the 100-meter freestyle at the 2016 Rio Olympics where he finished last. Many mocked his physique and less-than-stellar performance. However, a lot can be said about this young athlete. He did manage to make it to the Olympics, and he still tried his best to represent his country, Ethiopia. Doesn't that count for something? Doesn't the fact that he still finished the race deserve some applause and encouragement? Well, while a lot of people continue to mock this athlete, a lot more people are forever perplexed on how he qualified. It was later revealed that Robel is the son of Ethiopia Swimming Federation Boss Kiros Habte. This explains how the young athlete was given the chance to represent his country. And if it is at all true, his performance says more about sport corruption than the inspiring story I painted earlier.
While the Olympics are still taking place, let's focus on something more important than somebody's look and appearance. Let's focus on skills, and may the best win.
