Being in communications, I know how quickly information changes during a long-term broadcast, but my issue is not about facts -- but rather the words simply said about some of the athletes and viewers. These athletes work so hard to achieve their dreams and you keep taking credit away from as if they aren't the ones breaking records, being symbols, or even just winning gold.
When swimmer Katinka "Iron Lady" Hosszu won her 400-meter individual medley at the beginning of the Olympic games, her husband was credited for her win, not her. She's the one who just perfectly swam four separate strokes faster than anyone in the pool, and it really is an accomplishment. Despite a time when she was taking performance enhancing drugs, she is clean and faster than ever. Her husband, who, yes, is a coach for Hungary's team, is not a swimmer in the pool. He is not helping her at each stroke. All this man does is love her unconditionally and that's all that should be mentioned about him. Taking credit from where it is due is why many women are so upset with sports. Though it isn't just the "Iron Lady's" husband who is being mentioned at the games when unncessary.
When Katie Ledecky won gold in the 400-meter freestyle by almost two seconds at the age of 19, the announcers were quick to tell you that she swam like a man. She doesn't swim like a man, she swims like Katie Ledecky! Everyone, no matter who they are, has the ability to do anything they want if they want it bad enough. Why did no one talk about how bad-ass she was when she called out Katinka "Iron Lady" Hosszu at the beginning of the games either? She loves the sport and is an amazing athlete. I know that you mean well, but it is down right insulting when you compare us to anyone but ourselves.
Knowing women watch the Olympic games more than men should have been an opportunity to strategically sell commercial slots to. That is not what the NBC higher-ups decided it seems. Everyone knows that the Olympics is expensive. That is just a given, but saying that women aren't interested in the result, only the journey due to it being like the "ultimate reality mini-show" is just rude and insulting. As a former athlete, I loved to watch the sport but for the Olympics, you get the opportunity to learn about sports you never would have thought to watch on your own. We should not be categorized by a television network but rather used to find out which sports are watch most by what kinds of people and advertise that way...It's more strategic and you'll get a better result while insulting less people.
With 293 female athletes (over 50 percent) competing in Rio this year, historic things are happening and will still happen. Take the time to credit these women the way you take the time to credit the men in the same sports. Give these women the chance to have the moment they have worked so hard for.
