3 Reasons Why The Olympics Is About More Than Just Sports | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Sports

3 Reasons Why The Olympics Is About More Than Just Sports

When it really shouldn't

585
3 Reasons Why The Olympics Is About More Than Just Sports
TBM Women in the World

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.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

12 Midnight NYE: Fun Ideas!

This isn't just for the single Pringles out there either, folks

14881
Friends celebrating the New Years!
StableDiffusion

When the clock strikes twelve midnight on New Year's Eve, do you ever find yourself lost regarding what to do during that big moment? It's a very important moment. It is the first moment of the New Year, doesn't it seem like you should be doing something grand, something meaningful, something spontaneous? Sure, many decide to spend the moment on the lips of another, but what good is that? Take a look at these other suggestions on how to ring in the New Year that are much more spectacular and exciting than a simple little kiss.

Keep Reading...Show less
piano
Digital Trends

I am very serious about the Christmas season. It's one of my favorite things, and I love it all from gift-giving to baking to the decorations, but I especially love Christmas music. Here are 11 songs you should consider adding to your Christmas playlists.

Keep Reading...Show less
campus
CampusExplorer

New year, new semester, not the same old thing. This semester will be a semester to redeem all the mistakes made in the previous five months.

1. I will wake up (sorta) on time for class.

Let's face it, last semester you woke up with enough time to brush your teeth and get to class and even then you were about 10 minutes late and rollin' in with some pretty unfortunate bed head. This semester we will set our alarms, wake up with time to get ready, and get to class on time!

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 5 Painfully True Stages Of Camping Out At The Library

For those long nights that turn into mornings when the struggle is real.

2987
woman reading a book while sitting on black leather 3-seat couch
Photo by Seven Shooter on Unsplash

And so it begins.

1. Walk in motivated and ready to rock

Camping out at the library is not for the faint of heart. You need to go in as a warrior. You usually have brought supplies (laptop, chargers, and textbooks) and sustenance (water, snacks, and blanket/sweatpants) since the battle will be for an undetermined length of time. Perhaps it is one assignment or perhaps it's four. You are motivated and prepared; you don’t doubt the assignment(s) will take time, but you know it couldn’t be that long.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 14 Stages Of The Last Week Of Class

You need sleep, but also have 13 things due in the span of 4 days.

1796
black marker on notebook

December... it's full of finals, due dates, Mariah Carey, and the holidays. It's the worst time of the year, but the best because after finals, you get to not think about classes for a month and catch up on all the sleep you lost throughout the semester. But what's worse than finals week is the last week of classes, when all the due dates you've put off can no longer be put off anymore.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments