While the Olympic games are in full force, Im happy to actually watch TV and see people who have worked hard to deserve the spotlight. Don’t get me wrong I’ll always love “junk” tv, but with shows only highlighting how rich someone is and exploiting that, its hard to believe that there use to be shows that would contain real role models. A role model by definition is “noun A person looked to by others as an example to be imitated.” A role model should be someone who is trying to make a situation or a statement that will encourage or better the people around them. The Olympics are no exception to this, but specifically in the 2016 Olympic games in Rio.
With names that are known for their Olympic performances such as Michael Phelps, Hope Solo, Gabby Douglas, and Brooke Sweat, this Olympic game is one that the USA can be proud of. With the constant struggle the USA has been having within our own culture/society, the Olympics are a positive example of how different races, genders, and completely different teams come together and cheer for each other. Lets take this sport by sport and how this USA team is not only breaking numerous records but also breaking barriers.
Having a history of racism, the USA have been making a huge splash by comparing the history of our country to the present day to show how far we have come, yet how much we can still grow. One athlete in particular is being highlighted for winning the gold medal in the Womens 100m freestyle, Simone Manuel is being compared to how in the US past when women of different races could not even swim in the same pool together to having a 20 year old woman of color winning a gold medal is a huge achievement.
There has also been a huge buzz around the women gymnastics team and for good reasons! Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas, Aly Raisman, Laurie Hernandez, and Madison Kocian have dominated bring in 1st place lots during the qualification rounds and so far has a total of 2 gold medals and 1 silver. One of those gold medals won was in the women’s team all-around final. Each one of these women is a role model for how self improvement and having a goal is more important than getting to sit at the “cool table.” At the end of the day each one of these women who are no younger than 16 is a better role model than most TV reality casts.
Even with the scandals drama at the Olympics involving Michael Phelps and Chad le Clos of South Africa- if you haven’t heard about it or seen the memes I suggest googling it- where the South African was trying to intimidate Phelps before the qualifying race, Phelps didn’t say anything negative about the situation or about Clos, instead at the end of the final meet, they both hugged it out and wished each other the best. If that doesn’t scream role model to you, I don’t know what will.
All in all the Olympics are a perfect example of hard work, dedication, respect for others, and how magically we can all learn to cheer each other on whether its our teammates or our competitors . 
