While there have been many efforts to separate sport from politics, the truth is, sport exists within larger social and political contexts. Over the decades, we have witnessed many examples where politics and sport intersect, from athletes’ protest of systemic discrimination to women and minority groups’ challenging the status quo. The Olympic Games, considered the pinnacle of global sports competition, is no exception.
This year’s Olympics games in Paris were the first to have an equal number of women and men competing. They also featured many remarkable wins and historical moments for women athletes, who, despite the continued minimal investment in women’s sports, achieved extraordinary feats. For instance, we saw 14-year-old skateboarder Arisa Trew become Australia’s youngest gold medallist, and Saya Sakakibara win the country’s first Olympic gold in BMX racing. Valentina Petrillo will also compete at this year’s Paralympics, making her the first openly transgender athlete to participate in the Paralympic Games.
However, the Games also highlighted some terrible truths about the entrenched nature of discrimination and racism that has long persisted in women’s sport. For the women of colour athletes who faced intense scrutiny, sexism and racism, it is clear that equal representation and ‘gender equality’ cannot be the only measure of progress. Rather, there needs to be a more robust and serious conversation about how race is gendered, particularly for Black women and other women of colour and how this unfairly plays out in elite sport.
Imane Khelif’s story highlights the insidious nature of racist and sexist rumours and discriminatory gender verification practices that have long targeted women of colour in sports. The gold medallist deserves all the praise for her show-stopping win at the Olympics, as do so many other athletes who have been caught in these unfair attacks and practices. Media coverage of athletes of colour can be quick to amplify and further fuel prejudice and injustice in sport, while undermining an athlete’s hard-earned success. Sadly, this phenomenon is not new, and over the years we have seen several examples of how women athletes who don’t conform to Western ideals of femininity are subjected to racism and transphobia.
As Khelif continues to bear the consequences of these unfair attacks, it is essential for the sporting world, media, and society to understand the detrimental impacts that discriminatory practices, actions and comments have on people’s wellbeing and careers. Additionally, we need to understand how these conversations are often motivated by transphobia and can cause additional harm to migrant and refugee LGBTIQ+ people who already experience marginalisation and discrimination in society. To fully realise gender equality in sport and in society, we must seek to acknowledge and address all forms of discrimination.
Sport does not, and cannot, exist in isolation from the political realities of the world. Political activism is not new at international sporting events and can be a powerful means of raising widespread awareness and recognition of social injustice. For example, Cathy Freeman’s memorable raising of the Aboriginal flag following her double gold medal win at the 1994 Commonwealth Games in pride and recognition of Australian Aboriginal peoples, and then again in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney following another gold win. Despite warnings, athletes continue to show their pride and solidarity by drawing attention to human rights violations. More recently, we saw the talented Manizha Talash “b-girl Talash” from the Olympic refugee team, during her Breaking moment reveal a cape with the words: “Free Afghan Women” as a form of political activism. Her subsequent disqualification seems a disproportionate punishment, while others continue to face no accountability for serious violations of human rights, and are allowed to participate.
The Olympic stage can inspire us with achievement and representation, but as a reflection of society, it is not free of discrimination, prejudice and unfair treatment. Women athletes, especially women of colour, LGBTIQ+ people, First Nations, migrants and refugees and those from the Global South face disproportionate discrimination in sport. While we should celebrate the highs, we must also contemplate the lows and use them as an opportunity to do better. We must be prepared to see the Olympics in all its contradictory colours, to truly work towards equality in sport, and beyond.
This article was first published in edition #136 of The WRAP on August 2024.