Dear Athletes,
I would like to start by thanking each and every one of you. Millions of girls (including myself) look up to you and your achievements every day. Whether it's someone famous like Alex Morgan from the women's soccer team or Adeline Grey from wrestling, you all have done an amazing job representing your countries and people across the nations praise you on your successes.
I am constantly mesmerized by the way each of you compete with grace and dignity. No matter what adversity you all have faced in your life, you have found a way to make yourselves into champions. Kathleen Baker, you were diagnosed with Crohn's Disease and yet still pushed yourself to train and now you have an Olympic medal in the 100 meter backstroke. You and many other athletes inspired the world, and not because of your illness or your challenges, but because you chose to focus on being the best that you possibly could be. Stories like Kathleen Baker's will help the next generation of athletes to believe in themselves and create their own legacies.
Even though there have been quite a few comments with sexist undertones, you all have found ways to take the high road and focus on the competition ahead of you. Whether it's referring to Corey Cogdell-Unrein not by her name, but as "the wife of a Bears lineman" or calling the gold medal match of judo "a catfight", we know that each of you are more focused on your accomplishments. Yes the media is insensitive. Yes there have been MANY sexist remarks. Yes there have been times where I am very surprised you all did not fight back, but you all decided to fight back in a different way. You chose to make your successes a bigger deal than your backlash and for that I am grateful. You all taught me not to focus on critique, but instead to focus on everything going well in your life.
To close this letter off, I want to say thank you again. Thank you to Yusra Mardini and to April Ross and to Simone Biles and to every other female Olympian who has competed at these Rio games. Thank you for inspiring the athlete within me and every other girl who has been watching. Whether it's a retired athlete like myself or one who is just beginning her career, you all have taught us to dream big and go after our dreams with perseverance. Without athletes like you, girls like me wouldn't have someone to look up to. It's hard to believe, but without people like you, the next generation of female athletes would have a hard time finding someone to look up to.
Sincerely,
The Next Generation of Olympic Athletes
