The Olympics have been dominating the news this week.
So naturally, we're also talking about the Olympics this week ... but with the classic Glowreel twist of focussing on some incredible BIPOC women. That's why we're all here after all!
We've rounded up a small selection of the 2020 Tokyo Olympians who are inspiring us this week, and have also taken a trip back in time to the 1948 London Olympics.
You'll also want to check out Maria Flavell's activewear line - she had you in mind when creating it.
So, pull up a chair and let's get glowing!
-Shilpa
P.S. This week's quote from Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce really resonated with me. Let me know how it makes you feel.
News To Know
The Olympians Inspiring You, Me And The Next Generation
Unless you've been living off the grid, you'll know that the 2020 Olympic Games are well underway in Tokyo. You can keep up with the latest news here.
We're sharing the stories of some of the inspiring BIPOC women who are competing at the Games this year:
Starting off with Yusra Mardini. She inspires everyone she meets with her story of fleeing Syria on a small dinghy when she was 17, and swimming in the ocean for over three hours to manoeuvre the dinghy to safety when the boat's motor failed. Mardini is competing at the Tokyo Olympics as a member of the Refugee Team. She placed third in the Women’s 100m butterfly last weekend.
Momiji Nishiya is making waves at just 13-years-old. The skateboarder won Japan's first ever olympic gold medal for skateboarding, and is one of the youngest gold medal winners ever at the Olympic Games.
ICYMI, Alice Dearing is Great Britain's first Black female swimmer at Olympics. She hopes that her presence in the Olympic team will inspire more Black people to take up the sport.
Meanwhile, Jian Fang Lay is first Australian woman to compete in six Olympic Games, and she's raising the profile of table tennis while she's at it.
Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz has won the Philippines’ first ever gold medal after nearly a century! The Philippines first competed in the Games in 1924.
Last, but not least, Suni Lee is the first Hmong-American to take gold in a gymnastics all-around. The story of her dad building her a beam in their backyard because the family couldn't afford to buy one has gone viral (yes, we're crying too!).
Special shoutout to Simone Biles, who has been praised for prioritising her mental health after withdrawing from the Olympics.
Glowreel Reco Of The Week
You need to listen to: Tea with A & Phee
WNBA All-Stars A’ja Wilson and Napheesa Collier discuss all things hoops and pop culture while taking listeners on a journey into their personal lives. Fun fact, they're currently at the Olympics!
Not a fan of basketball? No worries! You might be interested in the Burn It All Down podcast. It's all about breaking down the big sporting moments with a feminist edge. The panel of five hosts includes Shireen Ahmed and Amira Rose Davis.
Insider tips:
Have a reco to share? Let us know what you love and why here - we'd love to share your recos in Glowreel!
Bites
- Constance Knight has been announced as the first VP of Global Creators at Twitch. Knight will lead efforts to improve the overall experience for Twitch's livestreaming partners, with a specific focus on serving diverse creators around the world.
- Vanessa Wyche is making history at NASA. She's the Director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center and is the first Black woman to lead a NASA center.
- Dr Emma Lee is using Aboriginal knowledge to protect the world's national parks and oceans. She's the first Indigenous Australian to co-author advice for an advisory body to the United Nations. Her contribution focussed on the cultural and spiritual significance of nature.
- Rajini Chandy is showing that you can be glamorous at any age.The actress broke out of the mould of the traditional older Indian woman for a recent photoshoot. She did the shoot to remind older people that they can and should enjoy their life.
- Grab your Popcorn and save the date for these two Disney releases. First up is the TV Movie Spin - which shares the adventures of 15-year-old Rhea Kumar who lives with her tight-knit multigenerational family. Spin is due to light up TV screens on August 13. Meanwhile, Encanto is scheduled to be released in cinemas on November 24. It tells the story of a young Colombian girl who has to face the frustration of being the only member of her family without magical powers.
Community Spotlight
Hine Collection: Activewear For All Women
Miria Flavell struggled to find activewear that suited her body shape and size, so she decided to "start a clothing brand that is inclusive of all shapes and caters for women everywhere."
In 2018, she launched Hine Collection from her home in New Zealand.
Fast forward three years later and Hine Collection has loyal customers from around the world, and the business has expanded to include a gym - The Movement.
Flavell's goal from the start was to enable "women everywhere to see themselves and feel good about what they see… We want them to feel truly represented."
Hine Collection has definitely been kicking that goal!
The brand sell sizes XS-6XL and the models for Hine Collection are from the brand's community.
Hine Collection is also committed to sustainability and aims to do its best to help protect Papatūāanuku (mother earth) and Taiao (environment).
A BIPOC woman owned activewear brand that ticks all the boxes - we love to see it!
Historical Woman
London Olympics, Summer 1948: The Historic Wins Made By Audrey Patterson And Alice Coachman
Audrey Patterson (left) and Alice Coachman (right)
The 1948 Summer Olympic Games were historic because, a) it was the first Olympics since WWII ended, and b) the Games marked the first time a black woman won an Olympic gold
In fact, there were two firsts achieved by black women at the 1948 Olympics:
- Audrey Patterson became the first African-American woman to win an Olympic medal
- Alice Coachman was the first black woman from any country to win an Olympic gold medal
Both women represented the US: Patterson in sprinting and Coachman in athletics.
Patterson developed a passion for running at a young age. She became a running sensation at college, beating national and international records in the 100- and 200-metre races
She won the 200-metre race at the US Olympic trials in 1948, qualifying to compete at the games in London.
At the Games, Patterson ran the 200-metre race in 25.2 seconds. She placed third in the race and received a bronze medal - making her the first African-American woman ever to win an Olympic medal.
Patterson was one of nine black American female track and field athletes to compete at the London Games, as was Coachman.
Coachman made waves in high jump from a young age. Just before she started college, she broke the college and national high jump records - all while competing barefoot!
She was initially reluctant to compete at the Olympic games, but agreed to attend the trials - where she destroyed the existing national high jump record. Oh, and she had a back injury at the time, no big deal!
While competing at the Games, both Coachman and Britain's Dorothy Tyler cleared the bar at 5ft 6ins (167.6 cm). But Coachman had achieved it with her first jump and was declared the winner.
Her gold medal was not only the first to be won by a black woman from any country, Coachman was also the only American woman to win a gold medal at the 1948 Games.
One Lioness To Another
"A person’s view of you is not important. What is important is your view of yourself."
-Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce
