The 2016 Olympic Games began on August 5 with a colorful opening ceremony in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and on Sunday, August 7, the US Women’s Olympic Gymnastics team competed to qualify for the Uneven Bars, Beam, Vault and Floor Exercise Finals, as well as the Team and Individual All-Around Finals. But I’m not going to discuss how successful they were because that’s not the point I’m trying to make. I want to talk about the fact that this is one of the most diverse gymnastics team that has ever represented the USA in the Olympic Games.
On this team we see Aly Raisman, a returning Olympic gold medalist and the team captain; Gabby Douglas, also a returning Olympian and the 2012 All-Around Olympic gold medalist; Laurie Hernandez, representing the USA in her first year on the senior elite team; Madison Kocian, a senior gymnast whose career began in 2013; and Simone Biles, the most decorated American female gymnast and the three time World All-Around champion. Not only is Simone the first woman to win that title three consecutive years, but she is also the first African-American to ever win it.
On the alternate team we see Mykayla Skinner, Reagan Smith, and Ashton Locklear, who was in close competition with Madison Kocian for her spot on the main team. Out of the eight women on the team (including the alternates), there are two African American women, one woman of Puerto Rican descent, one Jewish woman, and a young woman of Native American descent who is also a member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina.
Now why am I pointing all of this out? Does their race or religion have a direct effect on their performance at the Olympics? Maybe not, but this team’s diversity has an effect on the children of America. Not only is this team of women an extremely successful group of gymnasts, but they represent more than just the white Christian majority of America. Many young boys and girls of color see white people being portrayed more than they see other people of color and, when they do see people of color being represented, they are generally playing stereotypical roles that can be offensive to the people of that race.
The same situation occurs with religion in the media, as Christians are usually portrayed in a positive light while people of other religions are portrayed using harsh stereotypes. This damaging image that is embedded into the minds of these children will begin to affect their confidence and their belief that they are good enough to succeed.
Children should not grow up believing that they can never be as good as another person.
Children should not grow up undermining themselves and their talents because they believe they can’t do it due to their race or religion.
Children should grow up knowing that they can be anything that they want to be because that is the truth.
Children should grow up knowing that they can succeed and accomplish their goals no matter what race or religion they are.
The representation that this team provides at the 2016 Olympic Games can help reinforce a child’s belief that they are important in the world and that they can reach their goals. The United States Women’s Olympic Gymnastics Team’s diversity and success can help a child understand that having more melanin in your skin or having different beliefs than others does not mean that a person isn’t important and can’t succeed because they are and they can, and they deserve the chance to show it.
