Throughout the weeks of the Rio Olympics, we have seen impressive acts of strength, passion, and competitive spirit from athletes across the world. But beyond the physical feats, the women of the Olympics have not only proven their capabilities but also reaffirmed the power of women themselves.
Women in these games have demonstrated some amazing moments. Here are the top five of the Rio Olympics:
1. A photo from August 8 shows the women’s beach volleyball game between Egypt and Germany. While the Egyptian team was wearing full coverage uniforms, the German team wore traditional beach volleyball attire The game exemplified how clothes do not define athletic ability. Not only can these women play well, but they can do so in whatever clothes they want.
2. Oksana Chusovitina, a gymnast from Usbekistan, competed in her first Olympic games in 1992. This is her seventh Olympic games and she is now competing as a 41-year old. Chusovitina attempted a vault move so dangerous that it has been nicknamed the “vault of “death.” While she did not land the stunt, she wowed the crowds with her daring performance. Chusovitina exemplifies the Olympic spirit despite issues of the age gap in the world of competitive athletics.
3. During practice, North Korea’s Hong Un-Jong and South Korea’s Lee Eun-Ju took a selfie together. Despite disagreements from opposing countries, these girls came together for their sport.
4. In the first picture, Katie Ledecky was just 9 years old, meeting her idol Michael Phelps. Just 10 years later, Ledecky is breaking her own world records and decided to recreate the photo, swapping places. Even Michael Phelps knows Ledecky’s got girl power!
5. After becoming the first American woman to win gold in shot put, Michelle Carter expressed an empowering message: “I’m in a sport where people don’t look at us like women; they don’t look at us like being girls, or feminine,” Carter told the AP. “But I’ve been girly all my life and so I couldn’t separate... between the sport and being a woman." Earlier this year, Carter told The New Yorker that it's just fine to be feminine and be a badass competitor. “I think now, it’s like, ‘You know what? We’re girls and we can throw heavy balls and be in the dirt and we look good while we’re doing it,’” she said. “I think it’s bringing more attention to the sport and girls are realizing, ‘Hey, I can do this and it’s O.K. to do this as a girl.’”
Amazing women not only competing to win but reaffirming the power of positivity and the spirit of the Olympics inspire all of us to be strong and strive to achieve our goals.
