Playing the Politics: Staffer’s thoughts on why athletes should speak more openly about their political beliefs

The return of sports with the 2021 Tokyo Summer Olympics was a refreshing transition back into what used to be called “normal life.” According to Reuters, 16 million people in the United States spent two weeks watching with excitement, nationality and spirit for our country coming out in the form of passionate screaming at the TV. 

It felt like almost everyone in the United States was looking forward to Olympic gymnast and firecracker Simone Biles in her events. But, when Biles withdrew from the gymnastics all-around we didn’t get to watch Biles crush her competition in the way we had imagined.

However, Biles’ change of heart wasn’t a disappointment, as she used this setback as a platform to speak up for herself. She brought attention to the importance of mental health in sports and everyday life. As a result, it was a popular conversation for weeks after. Professional athletes like Biles are one of the most influential opinion leaders in our society today, and they should be encouraged to share their opinions. 

Whether I’d like to admit it or not, I pay more attention to professional athletes than politics — my personal heroes and idols come from sports, since I look up to them as an aspiring athlete. Regardless of whether you agree with professional athletes’ beliefs, it’s beneficial for us to be presented with whatever issue they’re concerned with so we can be better aware of our society’s problems. 

So much of our attention goes to professional athletes, which isn’t always a negative thing. Yes, I’m more attentive to the whereabouts of Alex Morgan and Patrick Mahomes than my own governor, and I’m guilty of checking Megan Rapinoe’s Instagram story more often than the news, but those who use their platform on the playing field as well as on social media to talk about social issues bring more awareness to those issues from their large fanbases. 

This year’s Olympics were one to remember for the protests and statements made by athletes in front of the world’s eyes. In July, the International Olympic Committee relaxed its rules on athletes’ ability to voice their political views. 

Biles brought attention to the value of mental health. Olympic shot putter Raven Saunders used the silver medal pedestal to speak up for oppressed people, including people of color, the LGBTQ+ community and those with mental health struggles, according to PBS News. Olympic hammer thrower Gwen Berry raised her fist against social injustice before her performance and turned from the flag during the American national anthem. 

Some people believe that professional athletes should stay out of politics, saying that they should stick to doing their job — “just shut up and dribble” as Lebron James was told on Fox News.  

However, researcher Carl Lasker wrote in a thesis called “Examining Professional Athletes’ Role as Political Opinion Leaders” that he found professional athletes and their activism can reach both political parties — this means both Democrats and Republicans can be influenced by athlete activism. He compares the effects of professional athletes today to the effects athletes had during the Civil Rights movement — so all athletes should be screaming their beliefs from the top of their lungs while dribbling. 

Plus, many of these athletes experience these social issues in their daily lives. Even if you believe their job is an over-paid form of entertainment, they are people who should speak up for themselves and what they believe in when they have the chance in front of thousands of people. 

This is one of the reasons we’re so eager to watch them — not just for entertainment, but for the ripple effect they have on people all across America and the world.  

People were dumbfounded when the Norwegian Handball team was fined by the European Handball Federation for wearing shorts rather than bikini bottoms, and it was their protest that brought the problem to the surface for the rest of the world to see, understand and fight with them against. 

Even the Black Lives Matter movement was a flame sparked by then San Francisco 49er’s Colin Kaepernick’s protest — kneeling during the national anthem — in 2012 and officially began in 2013 after Trayvon Martin’s murder. It has since turned into a blazing fire in 2020 after the murder of George Floyd and many others who were wrongfully killed. Then, as protests continued, the NBA showed support of BLM by postponing playoff games as players showed solidarity with protesters. 

Part of why hearing out and watching professional athletes is so effective is because it allows us to see those we look up to differently. Their shared opinions are a part of their public selves that almost humanizes them and allows us to know them on a different level. As Biles walked out of the Olympics, the world didn’t just see a gymnast, they saw a leader.

In an ideal world, everyone pays attention to issues at hand by being involved in their local and national government, but I’ll take athlete activism as a close second. The important takeaway is that people are regarding social issues, even if their first news of it comes from the other side of the TV screen on the Olympic field.