Prominent Players in the Winter Olympics

Anthropology
Written By Zoya Barnes

Introduction

Every year, I become more enthusiastic about the Olympics, whether during the Winter or Summer, and take great pride in cheering for Team USA. To me, these games are a time for people of all ages, races, genders, sexualities, and more from different countries to come together and spend time with one another when they otherwise wouldn’t have. Consequently, it has been made very clear that multiple American athletes in the selection made history this year and earned a place in the hearts of those all throughout the nation.

Nathan Chen

Nathan Chen: Chinese American, professional figure skater, Olympic gold medalist, and, most importantly, my personal favorite athlete of the games. In my opinion, Chen is a talented and breathtaking athlete and individual who represents Asians in America, showing their power and influence in current society. Seeing the champion of the 2022 Olympics, the 2017 Four Continents, the Grand Prix, and the U.S. Nationals increase the diversity of American athletes in the Olympics is remarkable. In addition to these astounding accomplishments, he has also studied Statistics and Data Science at Yale University, taking a leave of absence to prepare for his role in the games. I may be biased since I can’t skate without falling, but I do believe Nathan Chen is an accurate role model for all kinds of people!

Jessie Diggins

Jessie Diggins is not only an American cross-country skier but is also the most decorated cross-country skier of all time. My point of view as a woman and feminist is that this is a significant accomplishment for both American women and women from all over the world as well. Not only this, but Diggins won the United States’ first-ever cross-country individual medal directly after suffering from food poisoning in freezing cold temperatures. Specifically, just hours before her final race, she was bedridden due to severe food poisoning. As if it couldn’t get any worse for her, she also felt numb due to the five-degree wind chill throughout the race. Nonetheless, despite all of these challenges, she still managed to be the first American in her sport to win more than one medal at a single Olympic game.

Erin Jackson & Elana Meyers Taylor

As February is Black History Month, it would only be fitting to talk about these two astounding, influential black athletes who took the world by storm. To begin, before the 2022 Winter Olympics, only two African Americans had won an individual medal during the games; nevertheless, Erin Jackson and Elana Meyers Taylor changed that within twenty-four hours. While representing her culture, Jackson became the first black woman from any country to win individual gold at any Winter Olympics event. In addition to this, Meyers Taylor earned the title of the most decorated Black athlete in the entire history of the Winter Olympics for winning bronze in the team bobsledding competition. After completing her goals, she stated something in an interview that I wholeheartedly agree with, being that she has become part of a legacy that is much beyond her and will carry on for many years.

Conclusion

All in all, these individuals from different cultures and walks of life have proven themselves to be exceptional role models for all as well as history-makers in their individual athletics. Some may view the Olympics as a collection of mere sports and competitions, but to me, these games create societal progress and increase diversity. With this being said, I am very proud of our outstanding American athletes this year and how far the country and world have come when it comes to inclusivity.

Zoya Barnes
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