How To Look Like An Olympian
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

How To Look Like An Olympian

What you can learn from the Olympics and fitness inspiration

30
How To Look Like An Olympian
Tumblr

The past two weeks have enraptured the world as we turn our attentions to the Rio Olympic Games. Between the patriotic spirit, competitive fervor, and overall excitement of the games, the Olympics provide entertainment and the opportunity to celebrate the best athletes in the world. In celebrating athletics, we celebrate training, hard work, and by extension, fitness. Within the United States, standards of beauty are centered on fitness. Ideal bodies are slender with sculpted abs and toned arms. Fitspo, or fitness inspiration, posts propagate the image of perfecting one’s body; however these posts show almost the exact same body from picture to picture. If fitness is the pinnacle of beauty and attraction, then the gathering of the world’s best athletes should reflect our fitness inspirations.

But the Olympics show a different story. Humans are incredibly diverse, with bodies in all shapes and sizes. To believe there is one perfect body, or even just one way to show health and fitness, is false. In looking at just women’s athletics, the variety in bodies is astounding. Some resemble the ideals laid out in fitspos, such as beach volleyball powerhouse Kerri Walsh Jennings, who stands at 6’3”, 154 pounds, and more importantly is a three time Olympic gold medalist and won bronze at this year’s Rio games. But most athletes are far from the images shown above. Simone Biles, who won four gold medals in this year’s Olympics for gymnastics, including the overall competition, and is largely considered to be one of the best (if not the best) gymnasts in the world today, is 4’8”, 105 pounds. Gold medalists in women’s shot put, Michelle Carr, is 5’8”, 209 pounds. These are all amazing, beautiful women, who are incredible shape as demonstrated by their ability to compete in and win a global sports competition.

These women are only three out of the hundreds of athletes competing in the Olympics, which are only a handful out of the people in the whole world. In just looking athletes, there is still Katie Ledecky, Serena Williams, Michael Phelps, and Usian Bolt, not to mention all the athletes competing in this year’s Paralympics or the trans athletes that are likely not present at either (trans athletes have been allowed to participate in games since 2004 under conditions of having at least 2 years of hormone therapy, reassignment surgery, and being legally recognized by their home country as their “new” gender. New guidelines for the Rio Games allow transgender men to compete without these restrictions, but it is unknown whether any trans athletes are competing in the games). The goal of increasing one’s physical fitness to be stronger, healthier, and more confident is a good goal. However, when the idea of fitness becomes linked with one specific image, society deviates from the actual goals of fitness and starts to shame people who do not look this way. If Olympians, whose lives revolve around exercise and are world champions, do not all look like fitspo models, it cannot and should not be the expectation for all people.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

15452
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

945208
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

122189
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lots of people sat on the cinema wearing 3D glasses
Pinterest

Ever wonder what your friend meant when they started babbling about you taking their stapler? Or how whenever you ask your friend for a favor they respond with "As You Wish?" Are you looking for new and creative ways to insult your friends?

Well, look no further. Here is a list of 70 of the most quotable movies of all time. Here you will find answers to your questions along with a multitude of other things such as; new insults for your friends, interesting characters, fantastic story lines, and of course quotes to log into your mind for future use.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments