Posted on Sep 2, 2023
Women's gymnastics is changing in more ways than one
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https://www.npr.org/2023/09/02/ [login to see] /womens-gymnastics-is-changing-in-more-ways-than-one
After the U.S. Gymnastics Championships last weekend, many of the headlines focused on Simone Biles, who had just won a record eighth title.
But looking at the top finishers more broadly, it's clear that elite women's gymnastics is changing in some big ways — in terms of race, age and collegiate competition — and moving the sport forward.
The top six women at the meet were Black or Asian American. On the men's side, too, the top three were Black or Asian American.
It's a far cry from the 1980s and '90s, say Betty Okino and Dominique Dawes. They were the first African American Olympic gymnastics medalists, as part of the bronze-winning 1992 team in Barcelona.
After the U.S. Gymnastics Championships last weekend, many of the headlines focused on Simone Biles, who had just won a record eighth title.
But looking at the top finishers more broadly, it's clear that elite women's gymnastics is changing in some big ways — in terms of race, age and collegiate competition — and moving the sport forward.
The top six women at the meet were Black or Asian American. On the men's side, too, the top three were Black or Asian American.
It's a far cry from the 1980s and '90s, say Betty Okino and Dominique Dawes. They were the first African American Olympic gymnastics medalists, as part of the bronze-winning 1992 team in Barcelona.
Women's gymnastics is changing in more ways than one
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."The top six women at the meet were Black or Asian American. On the men's side, too, the top three were Black or Asian American.
It's a far cry from the 1980s and '90s, say Betty Okino and Dominique Dawes. They were the first African American Olympic gymnastics medalists, as part of the bronze-winning 1992 team in Barcelona.
"Back in the '90s and '80s when I was competing, there were not a lot of women of color in the sport of gymnastics," Dawes, now 46, tells NPR. "And I know whenever I would go to competitions and represent the U.S., I was one of very few African Americans that were competing or even women of color."
But that's been changing, especially in recent years.
Since the 1990s, most of the U.S. gymnastics teams at the Olympics have had at least two women of color. In 2012, Gabby Douglas became the first Black woman to win the Olympic gold medal in the all-around competition. And Biles, who is Black, has been the top U.S. women's gymnast for a decade.
At last year's U.S. Championships, the top three spots were all claimed by Black gymnasts, to accolades from Michelle Obama. And the women's team that represents the U.S. at next year's Olympics in Paris could end up being the first to be entirely gymnasts of color.
Representation matters, says Okino, 48, who is now on the national coaching staff for USA Gymnastics focused on dance and artistry for beam and floor. She says that young athletes would see her and Dawes on television competing in the Olympics "and think, 'Oh, I could do that.' And more parents also see it and say, 'Oh, OK.' It seems so archaic, but it's not only a sport for white kids ... it is a sport for young Black girls, too."...
..."The top six women at the meet were Black or Asian American. On the men's side, too, the top three were Black or Asian American.
It's a far cry from the 1980s and '90s, say Betty Okino and Dominique Dawes. They were the first African American Olympic gymnastics medalists, as part of the bronze-winning 1992 team in Barcelona.
"Back in the '90s and '80s when I was competing, there were not a lot of women of color in the sport of gymnastics," Dawes, now 46, tells NPR. "And I know whenever I would go to competitions and represent the U.S., I was one of very few African Americans that were competing or even women of color."
But that's been changing, especially in recent years.
Since the 1990s, most of the U.S. gymnastics teams at the Olympics have had at least two women of color. In 2012, Gabby Douglas became the first Black woman to win the Olympic gold medal in the all-around competition. And Biles, who is Black, has been the top U.S. women's gymnast for a decade.
At last year's U.S. Championships, the top three spots were all claimed by Black gymnasts, to accolades from Michelle Obama. And the women's team that represents the U.S. at next year's Olympics in Paris could end up being the first to be entirely gymnasts of color.
Representation matters, says Okino, 48, who is now on the national coaching staff for USA Gymnastics focused on dance and artistry for beam and floor. She says that young athletes would see her and Dawes on television competing in the Olympics "and think, 'Oh, I could do that.' And more parents also see it and say, 'Oh, OK.' It seems so archaic, but it's not only a sport for white kids ... it is a sport for young Black girls, too."...
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