Alyssa Servie Classification Essay September 8, 2008 Different Athletes, Different Titles Being a major part of American society, sports encompass an ample variety of athletes. Sports are executed on different levels of difficulty, such as minor league versus major league baseball. The most accomplished athletes perform at a level viewed by large television audiences. Their journeys through the world of athletics vary and their stories proclaim a unique reputation for each athlete. For instance, the members of the 2008 United States Women’s Olympic Gymnastics Team can be characterized as the favorite and the silent competitor; the lost dream and the leader; the veteran and the rookie. The one name that most people know, even those who are typically disconnected from gymnastics is Shawn Johnson. She is the favorite, the one that many people picture when they think of the 2008 gymnastics competition in Beijing, China. The media chose her, and rightfully so. On commercials, for example Visa Credit Card commercials, Shawn appears nationally, even globally. Johnson proved to be an incredibly skilled gymnast, and she did not disappoint in Beijing. However, gymnastics is a team sport, and the team did not win silver solely because of Shawn Johnson. There is another, equally as gifted, more graceful member of the team. Nastia Liukin, the silent competitor, contributed to the team’s success in the background of Shawn’s spotlight. Nastia gracefully and subtly worked and preserved to reach her destiny in the 2008 Olympics. To declare one, Shawn or Nastia, dominant over the other remains impossible. However, few are aware of this fact because Shawn continues as the favorite, while Nastia continues as the silent competitor. Two other less prominent faces in the media were Samantha Peszek and Alicia Sacramone. Samantha’s heart-wrenching story ended ten-minutes before her Olympic debut. She is the lost dream. She dedicated her whole life to the time-consuming sport of gymnastics, only to feel it all be ripped from her grasp. She sprained her ankle in warm-ups before the first round, the team round, of competition. Still able to compete bars, Peszek’s hopes for event finals and an all-around score shattered in the same moment her ankle did. In comparison, Alicia Sacramone’s Olympic experience was one of leadership. As team captain, she lifted the
team’s spirit and unified the girls. She cheered, encouraged, and supported her teammates. The team looked to her for positive and hopeful thinking when they were down. Alicia had an almost tangible force over the girls that made them remember they were fighting for the team and for the United States, not for themselves. Her motherly, yet intimidating, composure supported the team during the most trying of circumstances. Her dreams were fulfilled as her supportive attitude led them to the silver medal. Yet another pair of opposites existed on the 2008 Women’s Olympic Gymnastics Team. Chellsie Memmel, the veteran, and Bridget Sloan, the rookie, complemented each other to the team’s benefit. Both of them contributed immensely to the team’s success. Bridget’s sturdy vault and Chellsie’s solid bar routine helped the team win silver. Chellsie had been an alternate on the previous U.S. Women’s Olympic Team in 2004. Understandingly so, the fire inside of her was still burning. So, she returned to the Olympics in 2008, and this time as a contributing member of the team. Bridget Sloan on the other hand, was an unexpected addition to the team. She had not competed in the World Competition and remained somewhat of an unknown face. However, her commendable performance during training camp, right before the team was chosen, landed her a spot. She was inexperienced and the rookie of the team, but she performed beautifully and did not let America down. These different stereotypes given to each of these young women seem to sum up their trek through the athletic world, but they only give the illusion of understanding. The world watched as China defeated the United States in the women’s competition. U.S. citizens sympathized with the girls because they feel as if they know these young women. However, they only know what the media tells them. These categories are distributed to each athlete so that those who really have no connection to the athlete can seemingly “know” that athlete as a competitor and as a person. The world wants to be involved in the glorious athletic destinies of the elite; so, they categorize them. The problem with stereotypes is that they never consider the essence of their victims.