Tokyo Olympics 2020- HERO!
THE WEEK|August 01, 2021
A mother and a Harvard graduate threaten Florence Griffith Joyner’s record; Simone Biles tries to cement her place as the greatest gymnast ever; Naomi Osaka returns to action after much controversy. In this Olympics, it is the women who have the spotlight on them. Here are some of the best athletes at Tokyo 2020
Anirudh Madhavan
Tokyo Olympics 2020- HERO!

The year was 1896. The Olympics—a festival of virility—had returned. Men from across nations lined up to prove their athletic prowess; women, though, were made to sit this one out. “It was for their own good,” said men with twirly moustaches and inflated egos. Testosterone triumphalism was in vogue, and oestrogen could only lend polite applause. “The common wisdom held that a woman was not physiologically capable of running mile after mile; that she wouldn’t be able to bear children; that her uterus would fall out; that she might grow a moustache; that she was a man, or wanted to be one,” read 1996 The New York Times article recapping those days.

A century and a quarter later, a Jamaican lady will take to the track in her quest to become the fastest woman ever—nearly four years after having become a mother to little Zyon. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, fondly called ‘Mommy Rocket’, covered 100m in 10.63s this June in Kingston. This made her the fastest woman alive; Florence Griffith Joyner (Flo-Jo) is the fastest of all time, clocking in at 10.49s in 1988 (she died in 1998).

“Pregnancy was the last thing on my mind,” Fraser-Pryce recalled in a BBC interview. “A couple of tests later, I found out I was pregnant. I was shocked because I was thinking I had to finish track and field before I could start a family.”

Following a victorious return to the track at the 2019 World Championships in Doha, she told Olympic Channel: “Motherhood does not stop us from achieving our goals. If anything, it adds value to who we are. And knowing that we can create a human being and come back and be able to get the ball rolling and still be a tough mum was just awesome.”

This story is from the August 01, 2021 edition of THE WEEK.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the August 01, 2021 edition of THE WEEK.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM THE WEEKView All
WAYANAD IS WAITING
THE WEEK India

WAYANAD IS WAITING

Annie Raja has started an aggressive campaign. But the real battle will start when Rahul enters the scene

time-read
6 mins  |
April 07, 2024
It's a system, not machine
THE WEEK India

It's a system, not machine

All political parties have contributed to the erosion of confidence in the electoral system and thus in democracy. This is the real tragedy of the EVMs.

time-read
4 mins  |
April 07, 2024
Desi by design
THE WEEK India

Desi by design

Meet the team members who conceptualised the electronic voting machine

time-read
4 mins  |
April 07, 2024
EVMs cannot lie, only humans can
THE WEEK India

EVMs cannot lie, only humans can

I have no doubts about the credibility of the machines and I also consider it a matter of the nation's pride that this change was brought about and we improved our electoral system.

time-read
4 mins  |
April 07, 2024
VOTE OF CONFIDENCE
THE WEEK India

VOTE OF CONFIDENCE

The electronic voting machine has come a long way. Even as doubts persist, the Election Commission of India and former commissioners vouch for its credibility

time-read
5 mins  |
April 07, 2024
Hear the night knock, seize the day
THE WEEK India

Hear the night knock, seize the day

Jayaprakash Narayan hadn’t expected his arrest on the night of June 25, 1975. Yet, when he saw two scribes, who were on a midnight prowl at the police station where he was quietly taken to, he told them, “Vinaash kaale vipareet buddhi.” The words proved prophetic. The imposition of Emergency, the midnight arrests of opposition leaders, and his utterance of that line of native wisdom contributed to Indira Gandhi’s undoing.

time-read
2 mins  |
April 07, 2024
Five-Year Plan
THE WEEK India

Five-Year Plan

Though there are challenges, 'One Nation, One Election', if implemented, could transform the political and governance patterns in the country

time-read
5 mins  |
March 31, 2024
RUSTIC MAGIC
THE WEEK India

RUSTIC MAGIC

For photographer Deepti Asthana, life is not about belonging, but rather about seeking

time-read
4 mins  |
March 31, 2024
Good fashion, bad fashion
THE WEEK India

Good fashion, bad fashion

Season after season of fashion week, I struggle to find exciting things to say about the event. Don’t get me wrong, I love fashion. And I think Indian fashion has never seen better days.

time-read
2 mins  |
March 31, 2024
Director's act
THE WEEK India

Director's act

Established Malayalam filmmakers and writers are taking up lead roles

time-read
5 mins  |
March 31, 2024