We have been watching the Olympic Games in the evenings this week, like a whole lot of other people around the world. Since I have an 11-year old son, the games have provided for some great conversation starters.
On NPR the other day there was a story about the “doping scandal” within the Russian teams, so we discussed the use of hormones and steroids to improve athletic ability, and the pros and cons of using performance enhancing drugs in any setting. He made me proud when he asked “But do the drugs do anything bad to the athletes?” – because YES THEY DO, and too many people who use them (or ask their athletes to use them) seem to overlook that important detail.
Last night, we watched Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross crush China in their beach volleyball matches. He learned some things about the rules of volleyball, which he hasn’t played before, and since he’s in that phase of being highly aware of women’s bare skin, he also wondered aloud why the women were wearing such tiny “uniforms”. Let me be clear – I did not broach that subject, he asked the question himself. I told him it was a very good question, given that the men’s beach volleyball team wears nylon shorts and tank tops.
As we talked last night I said I do think it’s a shame that they are required to wear such tiny pieces of fabric, and we talked about how uncomfortable they look, but since then, I have done some reading and have to say I’m giving myself an “F” for my initial comments to my son. The uniform the ladies of beach volleyball wear reflects what is worn when the sport is played on beaches around the world, and I totally capitulated to the “bare bottom = sexual” side of the argument – even though we didn’t specifically address the issue from a sexual standpoint. Come to find out, Jennings helped design their uniforms – so she obviously doesn’t find them uncomfortable. I need to teach my son to see a woman’s body as a powerful athletic tool, not just something to ogle. We will revisit the subject again…
Sportsmanship has also been an interesting topic of conversation, especially in the swimming competitions. A certain female Russian swimmer wagging her finger in a “number 1” sign, and the response of Lilly King, who ended up beating her, was a fun thing to watch. We revisited the doping scandal discussion of earlier in the week, and how the gold and bronze medals went to women who have never used drugs. And the determined, single-focus attitude of Michael Phelps as he prepared for his battle with South African Chad le Cloe was a thing of beauty.
I remember being younger than my son, and mesmerized by Olga Korbut’s gymnastics routines. Soon after, I convinced my mother to put me in gymnastics lessons – I still remember my baby-blue leotard with navy stripes down each side. Soon after that, I decided I was not made for gymnastics, but not until I had an embarrassing run-in with some uneven bars. I decided to leave the flying to the tiny girls – but it doesn’t mean I don’t still love to watch every four years.
What sports are you most excited about this week?
