Those on the left responded, if anything, even more strongly,
insisting that Biles, the most decorated and successful gymnast of all time, is
the undisputed GOAT and owes nothing to a bunch of armchair athletes who criticize others to cover up their own inadequacy. Those questioning Biles’
decision were just as predictably called racists and misogynists once again
abusing their privilege.
Even Kerri Strug (who famously pushed through the pain of a broken ankle to land her final vault as part of a US victory in the 1996 Olympic Games) was dragged back into the limelight for the
controversy, with those taking issue with Biles’ decision pointing to her as an
example of someone with the true heart of a champion, an inspiration to young
women and girls everywhere, while the pro-Biles camp reframed Strug as a victim
of a draconian Eastern European coach willing to destroy as many young girls as
necessary to get what he wanted, while Biles is the real Olympic hero for
standing up to the tyranny of patriarchal sport.
The point is this. The Olympics, at one time, were supposed
to represent hope. The hope that if we all, Russian or American, Arab or
Israeli, man or woman, Black or white, young or old, could put aside our
differences in the spirit of non-violent, friendly competition for two weeks,
we could have lasting peace throughout the world.
While that idea was a little pollyanna-ish, there’s something
to it. Even if it didn’t work on an international level, or at least, not for
long, it worked internally. In the past, when it came to the Olympics, all of America
was on the same side, at least as far as we knew. We all collectively cheered
when Kerri Strug landed that vault. We all rejoiced when Team USA beat Team
USSR at the “Miracle on Ice.” During the Olympics, regardless of our differences,
we were all Americans.
Now, it’s possible that this image was an illusion. It’s
possible that during each Olympics, while we all had a public face of unifying
support, some faction of Americans were seething at some injustice or other behind
the scenes, decades safely removed from the revealing spotlight of social media.
But even the ILLUSION was worth something. The perception that it was possible
for all Americans to come together for some common cause meant something.
We no longer have that illusion because it is no longer
true. We can’t even all get on the same side against a devastating killer
virus, let alone for an Olympic athlete.
In Biles’ absence, Sunisa Lee stepped up for the Americans, helping the USA secure a silver medal in the Team competition and winning the Individual All-Around. In another time, another era, this would have been the story. The only story. Americans have each others’ backs. If one of us falls, the others will be right there to pick them up and press on.
We are no longer
worthy of that narrative.
Why is this the case? What has happened over the last 20
years to turn us into a country where we just can’t all get along? There seems
little point in trying to find out, as that analysis would immediately become
just as polarized as our reality. Liberals will point to FOX News propaganda
pushing America to the right, Conservatives will accuse Academia of pulling it
to the left. The real question is can anything be done about it?
Short of an intergalactic alien invasion or a mutated virus
so deadly it kills off the side that is polarized against defending itself
against it, it’s hard to imagine what that would be.
In the meantime, I’ll still be watching the Olympics and cheering
for Team USA. Who’s with me?
