‘All black podium’

[BWPodium]

In Simone Bile’s interview she said ‘it’s an all black podium for the first time, which is super exciting’

Whats your thoughts on this? Is it ok / positive thing to say? Unneeded? etc

I understand this is a first for woman’s gymnastics and a few years ago the sport was built around what looked like under fed teenagers so brilliant for the sport that it’s opened up to other body types and therefore makes a positive however, what about sports like 100m sprint that has traditionally always been tall African builds, if by any miracle three white men were on the podium, would saying this be acceptable?

It would be very rare in the 100m sprint?

Racism is not symmetrical. So, no.

Sumo wrestling perhaps. Can't think of any other sport.

This ⬆️

Do you think that the reason white people tend not to sweep the board in the 100m sprint is because they’ve been systematically oppressed and excluded from equal opportunity for hundreds of years?

I'm not really sure how to make my comment more clear than it already is in the context of my whole comment.

This

However, not impossible, and not notable because of fewer social and economic barriers impacting white people.

I think it’s positive and must feel amazing for Simone and other black Olympians. Also a great role model for black children and young people watching.

And yet you aren’t really engaging?

Totally. 16 is the minimum age for gymnasts and bringing that in has had such a positive impact. I am shocked that it doesn’t apply across the board. Children should not be in major international adult competitions. Whatever it may do to them physically, they are not old enough to be put under that pressure emotionally. Who knows what long term problems they are letting themselves in for as a result of the coaching, media, social media and other stress they are under?

You won't get that on here, a lot of folk here feel some sort of need to reply with condescension instead of having a respectful conversation. It's shame, it used to be a great site.

Hmm.. if the men’s 100m podium consisted of three white men would a similar comment be acceptable?

@pottedpalm I don't know if a comment like that would be acceptable. It would be an uneccessary comment though, since the majority of olympic competitors (and other successful people in the public eye generally) are white. White people don't need role models. They are the default 'winners' right now.

What about badminton and table tennis?
IMO, white people dominate in most Olympic sports because a) they're white people sports in the first place and b) sports funding. Because they can afford it.

At a world level, there are so many regional sports in events like the Asian Games that don't make it into the Olympics, but something like equestrian, very elitist, very small group, does.

It's not just about POC in rich countries. It's all very biased and unequal as a whole.

Why is it considered a 'good' thing getting the rest of the entire world into these sports. Instead of doing it the other way around - getting other world sports into the Olympics?

yes but not through active discrimination or lack of opportunity. As a pp pointed out, running at any distance is one of the cheaper, more accessible sports that individuals and countries with no spare money for sport development can get involved in, raise their profile on the world stage, attract investment so they have developed speciality and excellence. Black gymnasts etc were not held back due to lack of talent, but lack of opportunity and in USA, overt discrimination. The fact that they have made it to this pinnacle is as much a testament to progress in that area as their own phenomenal talent and hard work.

Look beyond 100m. It is the shortest of the many athletics events, but gets treated as the pinnacle of achievement. Look at the full list of all events and come back and tell us how many of them consistently have all black or all white podiums. Maybe then you will start to see it.

Apart from that, she is a gymnast. How many other all black podiums can you find there? That is precisely her point.

It would now, certainly. It was not at all rare 100 years ago. And that’s not because white people no longer have opportunities in sport.

Generally black people have a larger lung capacity than white people, who have a larger lung capacity that asian people. You have to take this in to account when measuring lung function (as well as sex and height).

This is why sprints, where lung capacity makes a difference are dominated by black athletes.

I do see your point about access to training and to equipment. Running of various types is often the sport taken up by people from poorer countries or poorer people in general. You don't even need shoes for it.

If you look at the Zimbabwean team at the 1980 Olympics the proportion of white to black athletes is stark. The entire women's hockey team is white. The cyclists, divers, archers are white.

I think an all black podium is something to note, it is also worth noting where the athletes are from. For decades gymnastics was dominated by Eastern Europe and then Eastern Europe and the USA.

The floor final had athletes from North and South America, Europe and Asia. Surely this is a good thing?

Dunno, contact the IOC.

This is such a laughable comment I don’t even know where to start.

What excuses? That African nations are not wealthy enough to invest in sports training? That black people in the US and UK have equal wealth and opportunity to compete in sports beyond the low cost ones?

Where did I claim to know anything about your ethnicity and what has that got to do with anything?

It wouldn't be necessary because white people aren't oppressed.

@BWPodium "
I’m not anything. I was hoping for an adult discussion and debate"

The problem is, there isn't a discussion to have. Well, not an adult one. Black people have faced consistent barriers to participation in some sports- it's great when those barriers are broken down. End of discussion, really.

I don’t have an issue. I asked a question for an open discussion about it. If one made a comment on race / colour then yes I would have still asked the question. My question is not gymnastics or Simone Biles specific if that’s what you mean?

I’d recommend watching her new documentary on Netflix.

Generally interesting but will expand your understanding of her view on race / gymnastics.

I’d also say - the US has quite a different perspective on race / way of approaching and discussing, so while her comments might feel a bit awkward to a UK audience it’s nothing unusual for a US audience.

Your question isn't Simone Biles or gymnastics specific OP? Fair enough, you've had plenty of answers.