African American
Related: About this forumBlack women are showing up for Team USA this week!
It is great to see so many sports becoming more diverse. Team USA gymnastics is obvious, but it seems to be a strong trend across the board.
Serena Willimas was there. Her physical gifts are obvious. She is also a fierce competitor, but touchingly vulnerable times too. I don't like tennis at all, but I make an exception for Serena. She is one of my idols. Even though she lost in the mid-rounds, she is always a joy to watch.
Gymnastics Team USA. Simeon Biles, obviously. People talk about #BlackGirlMagic, but she LITERALLY seems to have harnessed that to overcome the laws of physics. And although Gabby Douglas is not as dominate this year, solely due to the depth of the USA bench, she is so mature and poised now. Gabby is all grown up and ready to take on the world outside of gymnastics world. She is magic, too, just in a different way.
Now let's talk about Simone Manuel and her unexpected gold medal in the women's 100m freestyle. I caught the very end of that race live, and so glad I did! Swimming in the far outside lane, that was a huge, welcome surprise. A great victory for Manuel and Team USA, but also a triumph over swimming's racist history in the USA. It was a magic moment on the big stage. If she had done that in a world championship, no one would have noticed outside the swimming world. But at the Olympics in prime time! Notice served, we are moving into the modern age, even if some of our citizens prefer not to. Perfect.
Loki Liesmith
(4,602 posts)Men's gymnastics could do better. I don't know what they are missing.
sheshe2
(88,096 posts)She was spectacular!
Staph
(6,355 posts)With Simone Manuel standing behind Simone Biles -- five-foot eleven behind four-foot nine. Great athletes come in all sizes!
sheshe2
(88,096 posts)Biles is such a peanut, which is probably why she can fly through the air.
The Simones were both Awesome. They make America proud.
heaven05
(18,124 posts)with her skill(s) and social awareness.
JI7
(90,844 posts)the US was.
far different from a trump rally.