The 2024 Olympic Summer Games represents a significant shift in women’s sports. In the same city where women first participated in the Olympics in 1900, the 2024 Paris Games has nearly reached gender parity. A long way from 22 female competitors (vs. 997 male) more than 100 years ago, this year includes 5,503 female (49%) and 5,712 male athletes (51%) all competing for the gold.
The USA has the biggest team at the Paris Olympics and the most women competitors, 338 (53%) out of the 638 athletes representing the nation. Two of the most notable, hailed for their skills and heavily critiqued in their professional and personal lives, are Simone Biles and Sha’Carri Richardson.
Biles drew a lot of criticism in 2021 when she withdrew from several events during the Olympic games in Tokyo. Biles could not perform her usual dynamic moves due to a mental block. She chose her mental and physical well-being over becoming the first woman to win back-to-back in all-around in 53 years. And while the critics came after her, many celebrated her decision, citing her as a role model for self-care.
Richardson is no stranger to critics herself. In 2020, the then-21-year-old was disqualified from competing in the Tokyo Olympic Games after testing positive for marijuana. She explained after learning about her biological mother’s death from a reporter during an interview, she leaned on cannabis to cope. She apologized to her family, fans, and sponsors for letting them down. She explicitly stated she was not looking for empathy in her explanation for positive testing, and many did not offer any. She was chastised by the media and fans who seemingly forgot what it was like to be young and make mistakes and could never know the immense pressure experienced as one of the best athletes in the world. In response to her “return” to the Olympic stage, Richardson offered a roaring declaration: “I’m not back, I’m better.”
The powerful presence of women in sports is not only relegated to those competing. There has been an increase in female sports reporters. The Olympic Broadcasting Services hired 35 female commentators for the 2024 Paris Games, raising the percentage of women commentators to 40%. This represents an 80% increase since the 2021 Tokyo Games and over 200% since the 2016 Rio Games.
The 2024 Paris Olympics marks a milestone in women’s sports. Athletes like Simone Biles and Sha’Carri Richardson are only two of the female Olympians taking to the world stage and inspiring the globe with their dedication, resilience, and strength. The presence of more women commentators now than ever highlights the progress and empowerment in all facets of sports. As the world watches, the 2024 Paris Games stand as a testament to the remarkable strides made toward equality and representation.
SOURCES
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/01/sports/olympics/shacarri-richardson-suspended-marijuana.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/28/sports/olympics/simone-biles-out.html