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From moments of pure joy to moments of utter disappointment, Tokyo 2020 had some jaw-dropping and awing moments, and here are some of my personal favorites.
Simone Biles Shows the world it’s okay to ask for help
Leading up to the Olympics, the American gymnast Simone Biles was one of the most talked about athletes. Already a 5-time Olympic medalist and a 25-time world medalist, expectations for her were set high, perhaps higher than any other athlete at the Olympics. She shocked the world when she pulled out of the team finals, later sharing that she was expiring a mental blockade which was not only putting her safety and health at risk, but also her team’s chance at winning a medal. Simone Biles’ display of courage was applauded by people and athletes from all over the world who celebrated her decision to prioritize herself over any medal, something that many athletes fear doing. However, her Olympic 2020 story didn’t stop there, being Simone, she fought off the twisties (the sudden inability for a gymnast to make the requisite spins) a week later, to compete in beam, and came away with the bronze of her life. Although Simone may not have swept every gold medal, she stood for something much more important than a gold medal. She showed the world that it’s okay to not be okay, and it’s okay to ask for help.
Tom Daley – That’s all I have to say
It’s fair to say that if you haven’t heard about Tom Daley, you are living under a rock because the world fell in love with him (and his knitting skills) during Tokyo 2020. Everyone cried with him when he claimed gold at the 10m synchronized platform diving and added a historic bronze medal at the 10m individual platform. But maybe it wasn’t his outstanding diving skills that had the world in awe of him, it was him supporting his fellow Brits, while knitting his Olympic-themed cardigan poolside. I mean, how is someone so good at knitting? If you fell in love with him, like most of the world, make sure to check out his YouTube channel!
Skateboarding’s memorable debut
Skateboarding made its historic Olympic debut. Apart from the extreme talent in this competition, it was the heartwarming sportsmanship that caught the world’s attention. Yes, they were competing against one another, but they celebrated the competition more than they celebrated themselves. The men were in awe of each other’s skills, while the women tossed each other in the air in honor of a great competition. Japan made a golden statement at the skateboarding games, racking up a total of 5 medals, but perhaps what was more jaw-dropping was the number of young skateboarders standing on the podium. In women’s park and street competitions, the medal winners (6) averaged almost 15 years of age, but their age didn’t matter because their skills spoke for themselves. One of the most anticipated skateboarders was 13-year-old Sky Brown, an Internet personality who is always smiling. Sky left Tokyo as the youngest ever medalist for Great Britain after claiming bronze in women’s park. Luckily, we’ll be seeing her and everyone else in the next couple of Olympic Games!
The first transgender athlete to win gold, Quinn
There were many first and history-making moments during the Olympics but one of the most compelling was Canada’s Quinn capturing gold in the women’s soccer competition and becoming the first-ever transgender athlete to medal at the Olympics, not to mention, they also made history with their team, earning Canada their first-ever medal at the Olympics in soccer. Despite the controversy that surrounds the issues of transgender athletes, they were one of the first trans athletes to compete at the Olympics and the world celebrated this with them. Not only was going to the Olympics a huge achievement for Quinn and history, but they left Tokyo with a gold medal around their neck, making that 2 history-making moments for the Canadian.
No Simone? No problem, Sunisa Lee is golden
Simone Biles was always the favorite for the Olympic gymnastics all-around gold, but after Biles withdrew, all eyes were turned to 18-year-old Sunisa Lee, the first Hmong American to compete for USA Gymnastics. Suddenly, Sunisa had an unprecedented shot at gold. She gracefully took on each event, slowly climbing the ladder up to the number one spot on the podium, and at the end of 4 rotations, she had secured the USA’s 5 consecutive all-around gold medals, all while making history for Hmong Americans. Sunisa was the 1st-ever American of Hmong descent to medal at the Olympics, and she was more than proud to be able to represent her community. The globally recognized queen of bars finished the 2020 Olympics by capturing the bronze medal on one of the most difficult apparatus, the uneven bars, but don’t count her out for Paris 2024, she might be back for more, and I sure hope she returns.
Gold for Tatjana, Gold for South Africa
I couldn’t possibly end this article without talking about Tatjana Schoenmaker’s gold medal moment. After setting a new world record in the women’s 200m breaststroke race, Tatjana claimed South Africa’s first-ever gold medal and became the country’s golden girl. 14,000 km away, back in South Africa, the nation was celebrating her win, and back at the Olympic village, she was welcomed with Shosholoza being sung by various South African athletes. It was a special win for her, but also for South Africa.
Tokyo 2020 was filled with some epic moments, and I cannot wait to see these amazing athletes back in action in Paris 2024!
