Countries from across the world gather together every two years for the Summer and Winter Olympics. A momentous occasion for many, these countries compete in summer sports such as swimming, gymnastics, rowing, while winter sports consist of skiing, figure skating, and snowboarding. Alongside the extreme competitive nature of these events, they usually spark an increase in nationalism for the countries that get the gold.
During the 2012 Summer Olympics, I remember how my eyes were glued to the screen while watching the gymnasts perform their routine. It was truly a remarkable sight to witness so many powerful women represent the country I live in– with one of those women being Gabby Douglas. She was the only African-American woman on the team, and even was a true star before she was named the Olympic individual all-around champion. In 2021, we now have more women of color on the US team – including Simone Biles, Sunisa Lee, and Jordan Chiles!
With this being said, the importance of diversity in the US gymnastics team stems from the fact that young children look up to the gymnasts for not just their talents, but guidance as well. We all know by now that America is a country mainly dominated by white people. Therefore, if a little girl saw a reflection of her older self on the US gymnastics team, she would know that her dreams were more achievable. In the history of Olympics events, the 2021 US women’s gymnastics team was the most diverse team that America has ever brought. This goes to show the improvement our country has made since years past!
A committee on diversity and inclusion was added in 2012 to ensure that America’s racial and ethnic makeup was more properly represented on the team. With this being said, Olympic teams in the future will strive to include and represent a wider variety of Americans. Future generations of aspiring athletes will grow to feel more comfortable and driven when it comes to striving for their goals. This increased level of optimism pushes the younger generation to grow more confident in their abilities as well.
This nation has been built on immigrants and it’s important to understand that this country should represent the people that have helped to make it what it is today. Without diversity, America would accommodate a very different society today.
Written by Kelly from NYC
Comments