Olympic Athletes Speak

More Olympic sports athletes joined in via social platforms with comments on racism and inequality, #JusticeforFloyd and support for unity, including Valdo Szucs, Casimir Schmidt, Leo Messi, Kevin Mayer, Gregor Traber, Perdita Felicien, Usain Bolt, Clayton Murphy, Nadia Comaneci, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Andre De Grasse, Michael Johnson, Ona Carbonell, Jorge Urena, Salwa Eid Naser, Allyson Felix, Dylan Borlee, Right to Play, Sarah Sjostrom, Yona Knight-Wisdom, Renaud Lavillenie, Carli Llyod, Adam Rippon, Nafi Thiam, Stig-Andre Berge, Sanya Richards-Ross, Alysia Montano, Marco Belinelli, Travis Stevens, Matthew Mitcham, Eric Radford, Max Whitlock, amongst many others.

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#blackouttuesday #blacklivesmatter

A post shared by Valdó Szűcs (@valdo_szucs) on Jun 2, 2020 at 7:23am PDT

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I feel like with the amount of followers I have I am privileged to spread a message. Racism is still a thing and its just disgusting. We are all equal no matter what your skin color is, your sex or your sexual orientation. Some people are privileged and some people are not. I Hope one day that will go away but for now we will have to stand together against all racists. White privilige is not something you “use” its something you’re born with or not. I have been living with white privilige all my life nothing to do about that. But what you can do is step up when racism happens, speak up, confront people. Don’t be ignorant. Ignoring racism is as bad as being racist. Peace out ✌️✌□✌□✌□✌□✌□ #BLM

A post shared by Casimir Schmidt (@casimirschmidt) on Jun 2, 2020 at 7:09am PDT

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#BLM #blackouttuesday

A post shared by Leo Messi (@leomessi) on Jun 2, 2020 at 7:23am PDT

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1968 - 2020 This shouldn’t be our reality anymore... #blacklivesmatter

A post shared by Mayer Kevin (@mayer.deca) on Jun 1, 2020 at 1:01pm PDT

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#blackouttuesday

A post shared by Gregor Traber (@gregor_traber) on Jun 2, 2020 at 4:23am PDT

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□ ⁣I can’t watch this video showing a police officer draining the life out of George Loyd. Not 10 minutes of it nor 10 seconds. But I’ve read enough about it to be near tears last night in the bathroom. Only to swallow hard the sorrow winding it’s way up my throat. I didn’t want to scare my daughter with my sobs.⠀ ⠀ I save the talk of race & politics for forums deeper than social media. I opt for my kitchen table or phone conversations with my husband & other POC (ppl of colour) because these are arenas where I feel safe. Where I dont have to explain my fatigue, my worry, my rage.⠀ ⠀ It’s self preservation, (this stuff can be exhausting, alienating & triggering.) But it’s not helping the conversation move forward.⠀ ⠀ So I’m interrupting our perfectly curated feeds right now: You’re white, and wondering what you can do to be an ally, to not be a part of the problem? I don’t have all the answers, but I do have a few suggestions on how you can help people of colour if you swipe left...□ #georgefloyd

A post shared by Perdita Felicien | Olympianâ–¡â–¡ (@perditafelicien) on May 27, 2020 at 8:16pm PDT

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A post shared by Usain St.Leo Bolt (@usainbolt) on Jun 2, 2020 at 4:05am PDT

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No more excuses. This is bigger than us. #BLM

A post shared by Clayton Murphy (@claytonmurphy) on Jun 2, 2020 at 6:08am PDT

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#blackouttuesday

A post shared by Nadia Comaneci (@comaneci10) on Jun 2, 2020 at 7:05am PDT

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Human equality is my religion.

A post shared by Stefanos Tsitsipas (@stefanostsitsipas98) on Jun 1, 2020 at 4:06pm PDT

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â–¡â–¡â–¡

A post shared by Andre De Grasse (@de6rasse) on Jun 2, 2020 at 6:03am PDT

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A post shared by Michael Johnson (@mjgold4) on May 31, 2020 at 5:28pm PDT

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STOP HATE, STOP RACISM ✋□⛔ #BlackOutTuesday #blackoutday2020

A post shared by Ona Carbonell (@ona_carbonell) on Jun 2, 2020 at 3:32am PDT

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Black Lives Matter â–¡

A post shared by JORGE UREÑA (@jorge_onil3) on Jun 2, 2020 at 7:31am PDT

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#blackouttuesday

A post shared by Salwa Eid Naser (@salwa_eidnaser) on Jun 2, 2020 at 3:13am PDT

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My heart is heavy. I’m angry. Exhausted. Emotions so many of us are feeling. Here we are once again in a cycle that feels like it will never end. It could have been my father, my husband or my brother. Next time will it be? How much more can our community take? I don’t have the words, but I pray and uplift us all in the fight against the racist system that continues to oppress us. #BlackLivesMatter ✊□□ □: @pwesley22

A post shared by Allyson Felix (@af85) on May 31, 2020 at 8:58pm PDT

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#blackoutuesday

A post shared by Dylan Borlée (@dborlee) on Jun 2, 2020 at 4:10am PDT

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We all have a responsibility to confront and dismantle racism and build a better world. #BlackLivesMatter. #Protest #Racism #EqualityMatters #EqualRights #BLM #equality #rights #childrights #blackrights #equalityforall #humanrights

A post shared by Right To Play USA (@righttoplayusa) on Jun 1, 2020 at 4:53pm PDT

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â–¡

A post shared by Sarah Sjöström □□‍♀️□□□ (@sarahsjostrom) on Jun 2, 2020 at 4:59am PDT

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UNITY IS STRENGTH ✊□✊□✊□✊□✊□ Once upon a time, there was absolutely no way that someone who looked like me would have the opportunities, in education and sport, that I have had in my life. This is all thanks to the hard work and sacrifice of my parents who had to climb the ladder of society when they migrated to the UK, and also those who fought and gave their lives for my people’s rights and to give us a chance at equality. • But let’s be honest, that equality still does not exist, not across the board...I’m fortunate and grateful to be where I am in life, but it’s so sad to see that so many others continue to suffer at the hands of those who see themselves as superior. • What can be done? I don’t know...the protests are certainly getting people talking, but the conversation must continue even after the protests stop! It’s about time we all got to understand one another a little better rather than just making judgements based on preconceptions.

A post shared by Yona Knight-Wisdom (@yonakw) on Jun 1, 2020 at 1:19pm PDT

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✊□✊□✊□✊□✊□

A post shared by Renaud Lavillenie â–¡â–¡ (@airlavillenie) on Jun 2, 2020 at 12:50am PDT

pic.twitter.com/UOBpqVrIbc

— Carli Lloyd (@CarliLloyd) June 1, 2020

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#blacklivesmatter @theshowmustbepaused

A post shared by Adam Rippon (@adaripp) on Jun 1, 2020 at 9:25pm PDT

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It's not just about today, it's about everyday until we win this fight. We are facing the results of decades and decades of constant devaluing of black lives, black culture, black aesthetics. It is our responsibility, all of us, to change this. We have to do better. Will you try to do better? Will you educate yourself? Will you speak up every time you witness racism, even in its most ordinary form? Or will you chose the easy way ? #blacklivesmatter â–¡â–¡â–¡â–¡â–¡â–¡

A post shared by Nafi Thiam (@thiam_nafi) on Jun 2, 2020 at 5:04am PDT

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#blacklivesmatter #blackouttuesday

A post shared by Stig-Andre Berge (@stigandreberge) on Jun 2, 2020 at 3:00am PDT

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... or do you only see my blackness? . . . We are so much more than meets the surface. We are beautiful, powerful, empathetic, passionate, loving, strong and INDESTRUCTABLE! #StillStanding @mommination

A post shared by Sanya Richards-Ross (@sanyarichiross) on Jun 1, 2020 at 6:06pm PDT

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Hold space â–¡â–¡.

A post shared by Alysia Montaño OLY (@alysiamontano) on Jun 1, 2020 at 10:45pm PDT

I am a Caucasian man, a white athlete. I live in a privileded situation, but I DON’T WANT be silent while my black people are fighting for their rights. We are in this together. Please don’t be silent. Black Lives Matter. #BLM ✊□✊□✊□✊□✊□✊

— Marco Belinelli (@marcobelinelli) June 1, 2020

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#blackouttuesday

A post shared by Travis Stevens (@judosilencer) on Jun 2, 2020 at 6:53am PDT

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#amplifymelanatedvoices

A post shared by Matt(hew) Mitcham (@matthewmitcham88) on Jun 1, 2020 at 11:29pm PDT

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#blackouttuesday

A post shared by Max Whitlock MBE (@maxwhitlock) on Jun 2, 2020 at 6:04am PDT

June is Also Pride Month