Goodbye Olympics, hello double standards

by Ljubenka

What do we do now that the London 2012 Olympics are finished? What are you doing? Did you watch any or all of it? Can you wait for the next games held in Rio? Are you a sports junkie? Are you over it?

In our household, we had the games on most of the time over the 16 day event. Even Mila and Levi became educated in the sports of water polo, volleyball, basketball, gymnastics and diving. We are not ‘quiet’ spectators and if we weren’t going for Australia, we were behind the USA, Croatia, Serbia or Montenegro (splintered pieces from the former Yugoslavia). It was a treat for them to have the TV on for a period longer than one of their ‘programs’. After a while, they forgot about it and the novelty wore off – thank goodness!

One of the sports we didn’t get to see unfortunately were the female weightlifters. There was a lot of talk around the Olympics regarding Holley Mangold for team USA, and Zoe Smith from Great Britain. Lots of people talking about how they are perceived by men and in media for being “big girls”… Really now?! Are you kidding me?!

Getty Images - A world-class Holley Mangold doing her thing

Getty Images – A world-class Holley Mangold doing her thing

Camera Press - James Veysey (Zoe Smith showing us some of her red carpet curves)

Camera Press – James Veysey (Zoe Smith showing us some of her red carpet curves)

I was firstly amazed at how brilliant these two young athletes are and what does it have to do with their weight, clothing size, body shape? They come across as grounded, funny, quick-witted, feminine women who love their sport and are very good at it. What does it have to do with men (predominately) sitting at home eating potato chips and what they think a world-class athlete should be and should look like? Who made up the rules by the way?

I have done a little research and am horrified that not only do some men feel this way however, there are some young women who do also. What is with that? How far have we come in the weight debate, size debate, sex debate? Now, we are talking about athletes and their skills and accomplishments. Who gives anyone the right to judge and more importantly, publicly comment on a world-class athletes size and weight rather than their ability and ranking?

Do we dissect and discuss a male weightlifters size, weight, shape or appearance (or any world-class athlete for that matter)? Clearly not! So why is it hot news when two chicks get on stage and lift some metal? Clearly, it’s double standards.

What are your thoughts and sentiments?