Summer Olympic Thoughts

 Here are a few thoughts on the recently concluded Summer Olympic Games. There's so much going on within the 2 weeks that I'm not even going to bother commenting on even half of what happened. But I just want to share a few thoughts.

1. ) the sad end to health precautions

Back in the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo, there were strict protocols regarding the players' health. There was constant testing, and those who tested positive for covid had to withdraw and quarantine.

This time, it was anything goes! 

USA track athlete Noah Lyles knew he was infected but competed anyways, putting his competitors, coaches, trainers, etc. at risk.

Lyles may be one of the fittest people on Earth but that didn't mean he was invincible. He collapsed towards the end of one of his races. Also, the people he came into contact with (i.e.. coaches, trainers) aren't required to be the fittest and could have had possible vulnerabilities to infections. 

And I liked Noah Lyles from the time he mocked the idea that the NBA champions are "world champions".

https://pablowegesend.blogspot.com/2023/09/world-champions-of-what.html

 But I blame the organizers more than Lyles himself for putting others at risk. Athletes are mentally trained to get out there even when they're not at their prime. To them, the Olympics are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, never to be missed.  It isn't surprising many would go on the fields/courts/etc. even when they're not feeling well. 

This is why the leaders must step up and say "No, you're not going out there, you need to quarantine"

The Olympics should return to the public health protocols, testing athletes for infections and telling them to quarantine if tested positive. 

2.) Imane Khelif

Imane Khelif is a female boxer from Algeria.

In the early rounds, she fought Italian boxer Angela Carini.  Carini basically surrendered easily and the fight was over.

But the internet rumor-mongering was beginning.

There were rumors that Khelif was "a man" and "transgender". There were screams  of "how dare they let a man fight a woman in the boxing ring!"

But it's all based on lies.

Imane Khelif was born a woman, and her childhood pictures confirm that she looked like an average girl.

But because her body produces more testosterone than the average female, people just assumed "she's a man", when she's not!

Algeria isn't known for being progressive on gender issues and they wouldn't allow a "man" or a "transgender" person to compete in women's sports.

Also, if you watch the actual boxing match between Imane Khelif vs Angela Carini, it would be mega-obvious that it was nowhere near a brutal beatdown. I've seen preschool girls fight more aggressively than that!  Carini just surrendered easily after a few punches from someone a few inches taller. That's all it was.

And while Khelif continued on to win gold this time around, she didn't always have success against other female boxers.  This isn't a "man" who dominates women in the ring. This is a woman who had a mixed record of success & failure and stepped her game up to gain more consistent success.  

So this idea that a so-called "man" fights women in the boxing ring is NONSENSE! 

When a man dominates in sports, people admirably say "he's a beast" and give him superhero status. 

But when a woman dominates in sports, too many people dismiss the results by calling her a "man". Sad that people have to be negative about someone being successful! 

3. ) Simone Biles is back to dominate

Back in 2021, USA gymnast Simone Biles withdrew from competition due to mental health reasons.

On social media, we had non-athletes like Charlie Kirk and Matt Walsh questioning her toughness. Nevermind that Kirk is only tough when debating college freshmen, and Walsh is only tough behind the mic on his podcast. I've seen zero evidence of athletic prowess from either of them.

my blog post on this issue from 2021:    https://pablowegesend.blogspot.com/2021/07/knowing-when-to-stop.html

This time, Biles came back stronger than ever, winning more gold medals.

Meanwhile, still no apology from Kirk or Walsh. 

4. ) Break dancing at the Olympics

While many sports appear at every Olympics (like track, swimming, gymnastics, and much more), others just make a one-time appearance based on what the people at the hosting site are interested in.

For example, while the Japanese martial arts judo appears in every Olympics, karate made a one-time special appearance at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

And for the 2028 LA Olympics, flag football will make a one-time appearance.

This time, it is break dancing (or breaking) that makes a one-time appearance.

And there were the sourpusses who complained about "cultural appropriation" because many of the participants were of non-African-American ancestry. 

(Jeffrey Louis aka Jeffro shined in the early rounds but didn't win a medal)

I mean, surfing started in Hawaii, but you can't expect every nation to send a Native Hawaiian participant.

(USA did have Carissa Moore who won gold in 2021 but didn't medal this time around. A Tahitian man Kauli Vaast won the men's gold for France this year) 

You don't get to the Olympics by looking like the originators of the sport.

You get to the Olympics by excelling in the sport.

Breaking may have started in the African-American communities in New York in the 1970s, but it has since gone worldwide.  It has become popular in Europe and Asia.  Which was why Paris organizers decided to host breaking, and also why many participants are of Asian ancestry (including those who represent non-Asian countries).

After all, basketball was started by a Canadian man of European ancestry who immigrated to the United States. That would be James Naismith.  But even Team USA is filled with people who look NOTHING like Mr. Naismith. Even European teams (like France) had many players who are of non-European ancestry.

This whining about cultural appropriation is pure garbage.

And those who whine "we African-Americans started breaking, why so many participants not like us?" ............ do what Jeffro did and put yourself in competitions and shine!

After all, if Naismith's descendants want to shine in basketball, they have to put in the work instead of whining about cultural appropriation. 

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 as for Australian breaker Raygun, I'm not even going to join the cyberbullying brigade. At this point, I think she suffered enough.  She may not have fascinated the crowd, but it's not like she put anyone in danger!