Every four years, NBC seems to bring out its most xenophobic commentators for the Olympics. While Russian gymnast Aliya Mustafa seems to be the newest target of Tim Daggett and Al Trautwig, she's more than just the "diva" NBC likes to call her.
1. Meet Aliya Mustafina.
On the circuit since 2010, she won her first World title at 16 years old. What have you done with your life?
2. She's at her second Olympics and already done with it.
This is me when I show up to campus for Move In Day.
3. As a result of NBC having two dinosaur commentators who grew up in the Cold War era, the media likes to paint her as a cold-hearted bitch.
They didn't say that Mckayla Maroney was a "diva" when she pouted on an Olympic podium, though.
4. While NBC might portray her as a diva, she's really a cinnamon roll.
5. I mean, look at this cold-blooded Soviet.
"#tfw" you win a World Championship medal on your weakest event.
6. She can be intense as hell.
If I had her will and work ethic, I'd have a 4.0 GPA by now.
7. Seriously, she stared down Vladimir Putin once.
She's like "bitch, I just won four medals for your country, hold my bouquet."
8. At age 22, she’s the captain of the Russian Team.
Here she is giving Aly Raisman a thumbs up after her gold medal floor routine. But according to NBC, she's a poor sport, right?
9. And fully expected to bring the most medals home in Rio for the Russian team.
Maybe she's been having back problems from carrying her team.
10. After winning her sixth Olympic medal this Thursday, she now holds back-to-back bronze medals in the All-Around.
In London, she just won her first Olympic individual medal after having major knee surgery months ago and her reaction is less expressive than an Apple emoji.
11. She has an uneven bars dismount named after her.
Which she won gold with in London, and will look to defend that gold with in Rio.
12. She can actually hit her splits beyond 180-degrees.
Unlike Aly Raisman.
13. Born in Moscow, she's one of a handful of Russian athletes of Tatar origin.
She is of Muslim descent on her father's side, according to Times of Israel. You would think this fact would be more widely publicized, but if so many NBC commentators are still stuck in the Stone Age, it's no wonder why this goes unsaid. After all, all of America's favorite things include Muslims, the USSR and losing sports.
14. So block out NBC's xenophobic commentary and appreciate a remarkable athlete at work.
I guarantee your Olympics will be better because of it.
