9 Empowering Moments From The Tokyo Olympics That Will Stay With Us For The Rest Of Our Lives
Niharika has a passion for all things art, music, and travel and has over 4 years of experience in writing for social media. During her spare time, she likes experimenting in the kitchen, playing vide... read full bio
The sheer amount of people participating in the Olympics makes it the largest sporting event globally. We got to hear the stories of athletes and their hard work, struggles and perseverance. This year the Olympics were even more special as there were plenty of amazing victories and empowering moments as well. We saw the largest number of LGBTQIA+ individuals participate in the tournaments and it was a major move since they are still treated as criminals in more than 70 countries. Here are some of our favorite and most empowering moments from the Tokyo Olympics:
1. When Muta Essa Barshim And Gianmarco Tamberi Decided To Share Gold
This was truly a once in a lifetime moment and made plenty of people super emotional. It was a true moment of elation. Not only were these two athletes representing their countries, Qatar and Italy, respectively, but they have a history of competing in the Olympics next to each other. So Mutaz and Gianmarco decided to share the first position and gold medals in the high jump rather than having a jumpoff to determine the winner. Truly great sportsmanship!
2. When Germany’s Women’s Gymnastics Team Wore Full-Length Bodysuits To Make A Statement
It’s no lie that women’s sports outfits are a lot more revealing than men’s sports outfits. Recently, the Norway’s women’s beach handball players team was fined for wearing shorts rather than bikini bottoms and it raised the question of whether people are taking uniforms too far. To show solidarity and fight against the objectification of women, the women’s German Gymnastics team wore full length bodysuits rather than the typical bikini cut leotards.
3. When Simone Biles Decided To Withdraw From Individual All-Around Gymnastics To Focus On Mental Health
It’s about time that mental health finally received the attention that it deserves. American gymnast, Simone Biles chose to withdraw from the Individual all around gymnastics round to spend some time focussing on her mental wellbeing. She received mixed reactions initially but they were mostly positive. Taking to her twitter account, she wrote, “The outpouring of love & support I’ve received has made me realize I’m more than my accomplishments and gymnastics which I never truly believed before.“
4. When Swimmer Tom Daley Was Seen Knitting While Attending The Women’s Springboard Diving Finals Match
In a post, Tom Daley shared how he learned to crochet and knit as a way of keeping himself sane through the pressure of the Olympics. The young athlete even started an Instagram page to showcase his craft! We love how he’s breaking stereotypes and proving that some skills aren’t just gender related.
5. When Athlete Hidilyn Diaz Won Gold In The 55kg Category For The Philippines For Women’s Weightlifting
Philipino weightlifter, Hidilyn Diaz won the gold medal making it Philippines first gold medal. It has been more than 96 years since the country first joined the Olympics in 1924. Diaz was able to lift 127 kilograms in a clean and jerk method. After making a final lift, she let out a triumphant yell as she knew that she had given it her all!
6. When Tom Daley Represented LGBTQIA+ Folk And Gave A Passionate Speech After Winning Gold
“I hope that any young LGBT person out there can see that no matter how alone you feel right now, you are not alone and that you can achieve anything. There is a whole lot of your chosen family out here ready to support you. I am incredibly proud to say that I am a gay man and also an Olympic champion. I feel very empowered by that.” These were the words of Tom Daley, one of the first openly gay athletes to bring gold to his country and represent the country on a wide scale. His speech will be heard all across the world and by many who still treat LGBTQIA+ folks like they’re committing a crime for simply existing. This speech will also reach more than 70 countries participating in the Olympics where LGBTQIA+ folks are still criminalized.
7. When Indian Women’s Hockey Team Won Against Team Australia And Got To Qualify For The Semi Finals
This was the first time that the Indian women’s hockey team got this close to winning a medal. They were congratulated by plenty of celebrities and media personalities in the country. Although the team lost the bronze medal, they won the hearts of plenty of folks and truly gave us a Chak De! Indiamoment!
8. When Laurel Hubbard Became The First Known Trans Woman To Compete At The Olympics
Weightlifter Laurel Hubbard (representing New Zealand) is not just a well-known athlete and role model, she is also the first out trans woman to ever compete in the Olympics. While her entry into the Olympics led to a lot of debate over whether trans women should be allowed to compete in the Olympics, she did her job and represented her community. Although she did not take home any medals, her mere presence is historic!
9. When Syrian Swimmer Yusra Mardini Represented The Refugees Of The World
It’s no secret that refugees are often treated as second class citizens and are not given the due respect they deserve. They are seen as a burden rather than an asset to society and have been turned away by many countries. Yusra Mardini too, is one of these refugees. The young athlete swam for over three hours in the sea to ensure that the sinking boat that she was on (along with many other refugees) reached safety. She represented every displaced person and refugee when she competed in the Olympics for her host country, Germany.
It’s wonderful to see so many inspirational and magnificent athletes making their mark on the global stage. We are so proud of our Indian athletes for not just bringing home some medals but for also showing the world that India is a force to be reckoned with! Do let us know all of your thoughts in the comment section below!
