Recently, finding an athlete that is overjoyed to be representing the United States of America has been pretty difficult.
Olympic shot putter Raven Saunders …
Recently, finding an athlete that is overjoyed to be representing the United States of America has been pretty difficult. Olympic shot putter Raven Saunders protested on the podium for all the “oppressed” by forming an “X” with her arms, Gwen Berry turned her back to the flag during the National Anthem at the Olympic Trials, and the entire women’s soccer team took a knee before their first Olympic match in solidarity with Black Lives Matter. But not every athlete is unappreciative of what this country provides. Tamyra Mensah-Stock is an olympic wrestler, and now has a gold medal to her name — and she was ecstatic to drape herself in the American flag. On Tuesday, Mensah-Stock defeated Blessing Oborududu of Nigeria 4-1 in the women’s 68-kilogram freestyle wrestling final, becoming just the second American woman to win gold in the event, and the first black woman to win Olympic wrestling gold. “These young women are going to see themselves in a number of ways and they’re going to look up there and go, I can do that,” she said. “I can see myself.” After her victory, Mensah-Stock could barely control her happiness — and appreciation — in her post-match interview. “I surprised myself! It’s by the grace of God I’m able even to move my feet,” Mensah-Stock said. “I just leave it in his hands. And I pray that all the practice, the hell that my freaking coaches put me through, pays off.
