No one loves the Olympics more than I do. Every two years, I become obsessed with random sports that I would never pay attention to at any other time. However, this year, supporting my country feels a little different.
I’ve spent the last year, and especially the last month, unable to believe what’s going on in our country. Innocent people being taken from their homes, removal of laws and protections that have existed for decades, and so much more makes it difficult to be excited to root for the USA as their 232 athletes compete in Italy.
However, supporting American athletes does not mean supporting everything happening in America. In fact, many athletes have spoken about their conflicted feelings representing the US. Freestyle skier Hunter Hess told reporters, “I think it brings up mixed emotions to represent the US right now… just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on.”
We should use the Olympics as a time of unity. The athletes competing in the Olympics have spent their entire lives doing everything they can to get to this moment, and even though sports seem extremely surface-level at first glance, it would be wrong to disregard the hard work, strength, and resilience of these athletes just because of the country that they represent.
We can also use these Olympics to remember the good in the world. Maybe we aren’t proud to be an American at this exact moment, but in the past we have been, and one day in the future we will be again. We can’t let ourselves get lost in what is tearing us apart. We must find something to bring us back together and put a smile on our faces, and (at least for me), nothing does that better than the Olympics.
We cannot forget what is happening right now – in Minneapolis, in the White House, and everywhere in between. But we can stop ourselves from drowning in the constant cycle of bad news by enjoying a figure skating routine or ski run.
In a social media post on Feb. 11, American rugby player Ilona Maher wrote, “I say ‘Go USA!’ for all the athletes who I believe are a beautiful representation of what America should be. Those who are following a dream like many of their ancestors who dreamt of a better life and came to America for that… I say ‘Go USA!’ in hopes that we will become a country who doesn’t just say ‘love thy neighbor’ but actually embodies it.” We aren’t anywhere close to perfect, but these Olympics can be a light in the dark. So… go USA.
