“The Heart of Sports” is a weekly column that curates the stories, pictures and moments that provide a window into the beating heart of sports:
- The speeches to teammates and fans that are larger even than the game itself.
- The moments that sports is used as a platform and pathway to conversations that are bigger than the game.
- The thrilling moments from your childhood that you never forget.
- The tender moments among teammates.
It’s why we watch. It’s why we play. It’s the stuff that rises up out of sports and settles down into us.
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Today’s Heart of Sports moment comes from Olympic Fencing.
Since former San Francisco 49er quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, knelt during the national anthem in 2016 as an act of silent non-violent protest for #BlackLivesMatter and against racism and police violence, there haven’t been many white athletes that have followed suit.
USWNT Captain and World Cup Champion, Megan Rapinoe, became the first female athlete to follow suit in July of 2019, when she refused to participate in and knelt during the national anthem during a World Cup game.
— Jessica Clarendon (@jessicadolan) September 5, 2016
At the time she explained that she was doing it in solidarity with Kaepernick: “Being a gay American, I know what it means to look at the flag and not have it protect all of your liberties. It was something small that I could do and something that I plan to keep doing in the future and hopefully spark some meaningful conversation around it.” As we have chronicled in this column, Rapinoe has continued to vocally lead on these issues.
Race Imboden – the 26 year-old decorated fencer who hails from Brooklyn, NY – didn’t mention Kaepernick’s name, but after winning a gold medal in the Pan Am Games earlier this week, he took a knee. Imboden then took to Twitter to explain exactly why he did it:
We must call for change.
This week I am honored to represent Team USA at the Pan Am Games, taking home Gold and Bronze. My pride however has been cut short by the multiple shortcomings of the country I hold so dear to my heart. Racism, Gun Control, mistreatment of immigrants, pic.twitter.com/deCOKaHQI9— Race Imboden (@Race_Imboden) August 10, 2019
and a president who spreads hate are at the top of a long list.
I chose to sacrifie my moment today at the top of the podium to call attention to issues that I believe need to be addressed. I encourage others to please use your platforms for empowerment and change.— Race Imboden (@Race_Imboden) August 10, 2019
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Part of loving America, is speaking out for change when America isn’t representing the values we hold dear. As James Baldwin said, “I love America more than any other country in this world, and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually.” Athletes using their platforms – here, literally the gold medal platform – to speak out in this way is a powerful and patriotic thing.
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Photo Credit: @Race_Imboden Twitter