Meyers: We Need to Address Racism In Gymnastics

[Sylvia]

Article by Dvora Meyers (formerly of Deadspin.com):

We Need to Address Racism In Gymnastics

When Gabby Douglas won the Olympic all-around gold in 2012, she was pretty much universally feted for being the first African-American woman to win the most coveted prize in women’s gymnastics. But there would soon be backlash. Douglas and her mother spoke to Oprah shortly after the Olympics and...

dvora.substack.com

 

[Judy]

That is just horrible. Wow.

 

[tylersf]

It happens in the "elitist" sports in the US. Golf (despite Tiger Woods' success), Tennis (even with Arthur Ashe, Althea Gibson, the Williams sisters etc.), Skating(Debi Thomas, Surya Bonaly), Gymnastics (even with Gabby Douglas AND Simone Biles Olympic Golds). Field Hockey, Lacrosse etc...

 

[Aceon6]

It happens in the "elitist" sports in the US. Golf (despite Tiger Woods' success), Tennis (even with Arthur Ashe, Althea Gibson, the Williams sisters etc.), Skating(Debi Thomas, Surya Bonaly), Gymnastics (even with Gabby Douglas AND Simone Biles Olympic Golds). Field Hockey, Lacrosse etc...

This. Sports based around clubs are the worst. Although there may be some clubs doing outreach in their communities, club culture is mainly white, affluent and insular.