HomeSilicon Valley Asian American NewsRepresentation Matters: how America is represented by athletes of all races and ethnic groups, including Asian American & Pacific Islanders.
Representation Matters: how America is represented by athletes of all races and ethnic groups, including Asian American & Pacific Islanders.
At the Tokyo Olympic games, we enjoyed a feast of sporting matches at its highest level. What is inspirational is how America is represented by athletes of all races and ethnic groups, including Asian American & Pacific Islanders. This is a picture of a true nation of immigrants at its best: Everyone is judged only on their ability and character regardless of color and country of origin.
Team USA, Beijing 2008 Olympics
Team USA, Tokyo 2020 Olympics
Team USA gymnastics stands out as an outstanding example. Just look at these two pictures: one from the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and one from the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. The difference is striking and reflects the changing face of a nation and social progress made within a generation.
Due to mental health issues, Simone Biles, the star of Team USA decided to withdraw from the competition early in the Olympics. At this critical moment, Sunisa (Suni) Lee, an Asian (Hmong) American team member stepped up to help team USA win the Silver Medal and later to win the Gold Medal of individual all-around. She is the first Asian American to take that prestigious title.
Unlike the stereotype of the “model minority”, Suni grew up in a Hmong refugee community living under the poverty line. Her family and the local community made it possible for her to continue the gymnastic training. Today, she is the all-around gold medalist standing at the Olympic podium. What an inspirational story of the American dream!
Congratulations and thanks, Suni! You symbolized the AAPI contribution and represent the best of America!
Gymnastic All-Around Gold Medalist, Sunisa Lee, Tokyo, 2021
Reflections
Tokyo Summer Olympics: Self-Awareness, Courage, Joy and Sorrow All Part of Sorting Events
ByAngela Anand Member of AAUC Executive Committee, President of South Asian Women’s Network, and Immediate Past President of NFIA
Integrity is loosely defined as being true to one’s value system. Thinking, believing, and conforming consistently with one’s believes is integrity. Pulling out of the summer Olympics by Simone Biles, a top American athlete exemplifies this human characteristic and shows her courage to take action. She believed she was not in a good mental state to help her team succeed in winning the game. Her team did win the women’s gymnastics silver medal after Simone withdrew from the game.
A similar action was also performed earlier this year by tennis player, Naomi Osaka, who withdrew from the French Open. All competitions are stressors. Public or self-imposed pressure to win the medal and applause is tremendous to bear by humans. These are two examples of good athletes’ assessments of their own capacities and mental status. They showed courage and self-awareness at an international sporting event.
For India, PV Sindhu is the first Indian female who has won two Olympic medals. She also became the first woman internationally since 2008 to win a medal in women’s singles in back-to-back Olympics. Only three women need to be mentioned who are in the same category– Korean Bang Soo Hyun, Indonesian Susi Susanti, and Chinese double champion Shang Ning. At the onset of the Olympics, Mirabai Chanu of India secured a silver medal in weightlifting. India wins its first since 1980 a bronze medal in hockey.
Chen Meng won the women’s singles Olympic table tennis for China. Japan’s Mima Ito won the bronze earning Japan’s first-ever medal in the Olympic women’s singles after she secured gold in the mixed doubles. American gymnast Suni won a bronze medal; which is in addition to her gold medal in the individual category. Loveline Borgohain wins bronze in welterweight boxing.
Winning and losing a competition puts a lot of emotional and societal pressure on athletes. The recognition of one’s ability to call quit at the right time is human. This valuable experience one gains at the sporting event can be a precursor of one’s forthcoming success. It is exemplified by Simone Biles who won a bronze medal on the balance beam and China’s Guan Chen Chen won the gold in the same event.
Neeraj Chopra won a gold medal in the men’s javelin throw. With the win, Neeraj became only the second Indian to win an individual gold in the Olympics, and the first to notch up a track and field Olympic medal for the country.
