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BEYOND LIMITS
from SEEMA August Issue
by SEEMA
GOING BEYOND LIMITS
Citius, Altius, Fortius
August is a transition month. It’s summer’s last hurrah and augurs the imminent arrival of fall. August also brings a bounty of fresh vegetables and fruits from the garden, including berries, ripened tomatoes, melons, sweet corn on the cob, and zucchinis. This year, August also finds us watching the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Yes the International Olympic Committee decided to keep the name Tokyo 2020, partly because the Olympics have only been canceled before during world wars. This was a way of preserving the tradition and avoiding the $20 billion budgetary implication of changing all the branding logos and signs to 2021.
This semiotic anachronism isn’t the only thing unusual about the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Besides masks and social distancing and a hermetically sealed Olympic park, this year has seen many surprises. But strip away the pomp, panoply and controversy, one thing still lingers on, perhaps itself an anachronistic vestige of less cynical times – the Olympic spirit, the one that celebrates “friendship, solidarity and fair play.”
The Olympics teach us lessons in persistence, grit and determination, contests during which we celebrate and cheer the winner and gold medalist, empathize with the loser, and join in the full-blooded throaty joy of the underdog who beats all the odds to win.
That is the case for many athletes who traveled to Japan this year, including people from South Asia, women of color, BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities. The odds are, as an athlete, you are not gonna make the final cut. It’s almost Darwinian, and that’s why, when you do win a medal, or even just finish a race, it is cause for celebration.
Two of the biggest newsmakers were Naomi Osaka and Simone Biles, both withdrawing for reasons related to mental health. Biles has introduced the world to the inner struggles of gymnasts, who can suffer from a case of the “twisties,” spatial disorientation as you tumble in the air before landing. Her stepping down has also demonstrated the value of those at the top making room and space to give others a chance. She also brought back attention to the long-lasting effects of sexual assault, since she had accused her coach Larry Nassar, who is serving a 60-year sentence.
Biles stepping away opened the door for Suni Lee, an underdog who beat the odds and won the women’s allaround gold.
And what about South Asian women competing in the Olympics? I don’t know about you but I rarely saw them in the coverage. Where are they and how did they fare? In this issue of the magazine we showcase these South Asian Olympics stars who competed, in fencing, tennis, track and field, boxing, discus, and some lesser-known sports.
Each is a star in her own right. In the true Olympic spirit, it doesn’t matter whether you win or lose – as long as you compete, you are an Olympian and you deserve praise! Congratulations!
