Achieving the Impossible. Olympians are the Ultimate Rebels.
The Olympics are always a very exciting, inspiring, and special time. The athletic achievement is admirable. Every single athlete is achieving extraordinary levels of excellence in their respective sports. But above all else, I love all their stories of resilience, perseverance, and discipline, they are so inspirational. It never fails. I get extremely moved and inspired. Interestingly, the Olympics and hearing the stories from the Olympians, always spark my rebellious streak. Why you may ask? Well…Olympians are rebels, maybe even the ultimate rebels. Let’s break that down.
OLYMPIANS ARE THE ULTIMATE REBELS
In order to be the best, break world records, function at such high athletic levels, to ultimately defy the odds, you have to be able to channel your inner rebel! Olympians are achieving the impossible, in many cases. I imagine that every single one of the Olympic athletes have dreamed about being the best… or setting a world record, or about being an Olympian for a large percentage of their lives.
I also guarantee that they regularly experience doubters. Those people who tried to talk them into different journey’s or stable career paths or even told them, “No”… “no, you can’t be a professional snowboarder” or, “you don’t have a natural talent” or maybe they were told, “no, you might not be good enough” or “that’s not for you.”
I imagine that they heard these kinds of statements thousands of times, possibly more than any form of positive encouragement. So, the fact that they were able to block out all the negative talk and still go after their dreams is admirable. A skill that requires the ability to be rebellious. I am deeply inspired by anyone that can push past all the doubters and negativity and say, “watch me succeed!” The ultimate rebellion!
REBELS AT THEIR CORE
Sunisa Lee, shining star of the United States Women’s Gymnastics team who won the all-around gold medal and the bronze on the uneven bars in Toyko, was recently interviewed and she shared, “When someone does say that I am not capable of doing something, that’s when I want to prove them wrong.” You have to be a rebel to hear someone question your abilities or doubt you—and still be pumped to prove them wrong. I loved watching her achieve her dreams in Tokyo this year. Similarly, Sky Brown, the 13-year-old British skateboarding medalist shared, “When people say I’m not good enough, I want to prove them wrong. I give it everything to show them that I CAN DO IT!”
When I think about this kind of this rebellious mindset, I often wonder about how many of my dreams I walked away from because I heard negativity and doubt from others? I imagine that is common.
Let’s take a look at some examples of extraordinary Olympic and athletic rebels that did the impossible and proved to everyone to never underestimate them, past and present!
SERENA AND VENUS WILLIAMS
Rebels Serena and her sister Venus Williams both have amazing stories. They grew up in Compton, California, an impoverished environment that was known to be unsafe and in turmoil at the time. They didn’t just survive, they went on to thrive into tennis careers with the tools to compete and succeed as champions (having won 30 majors between them, plus many more doubles titles.) I fangirled early on when they famously rebelled against the old-fashioned rules which often tried to dictate to them what they should do, or wear. I also truly admire their stand against injustice, their activism, and their philanthropy, which give back to those who have less.
“You have to believe in yourself when no one else does — that makes you a winner right there.”
~Venus Williams
SERENA
Serena has become the ultimate inspiration in recent years, especially after watching her win the Australian Open, while over 35, which was unheard of, but also while eight weeks pregnant. “On September 1, 2017, Williams gave birth to a daughter named Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr.” She had a cesarean-section delivery due to a pulmonary embolism during labor. She suffered another pulmonary embolism after giving birth, leaving her bedridden for six weeks and delaying her return to training.”
Regardless of her age, medical challenges, and being a mom, Serena rose back to the top of her game proving to all the doubters wrong. It was a pivotal moment for many women who have been told for years that pregnancy would end your career or that you are done after a certain age. Serena sent a clear message and she lead the way for others. In 2020, Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka made History as the First Moms to Meet in a Grand Slam Semifinal. It is clear that Serena has changed and pushed her sport forward for the better. Truly admirable and an ultimate rebel!
“I am lucky that whatever fear I have inside me, my desire to win is always stronger.”
~Serena Williams
ALLYSON FELIX
One of the most inspirational stories of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo is that of Allyson Felix. Her achievements are remarkable. Allyson broke the record in Toyko to become the most decorated US Track and Field athlete in history, with eleven Olympic track and field medals, an honor formally held by Carl Lewis. That achievement alone is absolutely phenomenal, but there is more. The Tokyo Olympics marked her 5th Olympic games, her first medal came back in Athens in 2004, at the young age of 18 and she has won medals in every Olympic games since then, but there is more! Now 35-years-old and a mom, many doubted Allyson could perform again at the top of her game, but she sure has proved them all wrong!
CHALLENGING THE STATUS QUO
After the 2016 Olympics, Allyson knew that is was the time to start her family, but there was resistance. Many told her that she would never get back to her previous athletic ability, like countless female track athletes before her, that would be the end of her Olympic aspirations. But that is when her rebellious side shined! She knew that she could do it and wanted to prove them all wrong!
NPR shares that, “Felix didn’t believe that should have to be her reality — nor anyone else’s going forward if they didn’t want it to be — and she didn’t want the $30 billion corporation sponsoring her, Nike, to think that was the case either.” Unfortunately, one of the biggest doubters of all was her sponsor, Nike.
“Nike was clear: the company would not be open to continuing to sponsor and pay Felix the same way going forward…Nike was prepared to cut the terms of Felix’s endorsement by as much as 70%.” Allyson famously spoke out against Nike and told her story in May of 2019 in an op-ed in the New York Times,
HUGE WIN FOR MOMS
So since then, Allyson has left Nike, signed with Athleta, and become extremely outspoken for pregnancy and maternity rights for athletes. Along with Athleta, she has spearheaded a $200,000 grand program to help cover the costs of childcare for moms and designed her own shoe, tailored to the specifics of the female foot. She has also launched Saysh, a community-centered lifestyle brand that creates products for, and by, women.
“I never would have thought that using my voice would have led to NIKE changing their maternity policy for athletes and I definitely never would have thought it would lead to creating @bysaysh. Keep going and keep speaking up, even if your voice shakes.”
~Allyson Felix
So, it is beyond epic that Allyson won Bronze and Gold Medals in Tokyo surpassing the record of Carl Lewis, while sporting her c-section scar, wearing her shoe design, and with her 2-year-old daughter watching! Legacy solidified and triumph for women everywhere. Definitely brought me to tears!
A true rebel!
DARA TORRES
Everyone loves a great comeback story and that is Dara. When I was in elementary school, I was deeply inspired by her when she hit the news for breaking the records for the 50-yard freestyle while she was still a young teenager. Only a few years older than I was, it was amazing to see an athlete achieve such feats of greatness. In the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, Torres was a member of the gold medal-winning U.S. women’s 4×100-meter freestyle relay team. I can still remember seeing the coverage on the news.
“Never put an age limit on your dreams.”
~Dara Torres
Fast forward to 2007, Dara Torres was 40 and a new mom to a 16-month-old daughter, and impressively broke her own record of 24.63 seconds set at the 2000 Summer Olympics, by swimming the 50-meter freestyle of 24.53 seconds.
OLYMPIC REBEL
Dara’s success brought a very important conversation to the news and media around age and pregnancy. Her domination was documented well at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, where she became the oldest U.S. Olympic swimmer in history, the first American swimmer to appear in five Olympic Games (1984, 1988, 1992, 2000, 2008), and winning three Olympic silver medals at the age of 41.
Check out her book, “Age Is Just a Number: You’re Never TOO Old to Chase Your Dream!“
SIMONE BILES
She may be 4 ft 8 in tall, but do not underestimate Simone! Clearly positioned at the top of my list is Simone Biles who has not only overcome a large amount of adversity to achieve a level of gymnastics that surpasses the laws of physics, but she has also pushed us to prioritize important issues around mental health, perseverance, leadership, and she has done a fantastic job challenging the old, antiquated rules of gymnastics. Additionally she is also leading her fellow gymnasts, standing up against abuse and those that turned a blind eye to the years of abuse from USA Gymnastic doctor, Larry Nassar.
Simone Biles has earned a combination of 32 Olympic and World Championship medals. She is also tied with Larisa Latynina as the most decorated gymnast of all time! Yeap, she has been super busy and she such an inspiration!
“It’s important to teach our female youth that it’s OK to say, ‘Yes, I am good at this,’ and you don’t hold back. You only see the men doing it. And they’re praised for it, and the women are looked down upon for it. But I feel like it’s good (to do) because once you realize you’re confident and good at it, then you’re even better at what you do.”
~Simone Biles
WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE OLYMPIC REBEL?
WATCH ME
So next time you find yourself in a position where people are doubting your brilliance, think about channeling your inner rebel Olympian! When faced with doubters they say, “watch me.” They don’t listen to the negative chatter and they instead listen to themselves and make it happen, or better yet they do the impossible. That’s the inspiration that we can bring into every part of our life, including our careers.
OLYMPIANS ARE THE ULTIMATE REBELS, YOU CAN BE A REBEL TOO!
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In researching for this I discovered this great content for young girls, and forthcoming book, “Rebel Girls Champions, 25 Stories of Unstoppable Athletes.” Learn more here: https://www.rebelgirls.com/