Words and illustration by Seven Nguyen
Both the Olympics and Paralympics have now wrapped up, and this year, it felt like we weren’t just cheering for the champions—we were celebrating the incredible diversity that brought the games to life! The Olympics, as the ultimate sports stage, brings together athletes from all corners of the world, each bringing their unique physical prowess to the games. The incredible diversity of bodies on display isn’t just empowering; it’s a heartening affirmation of inclusivity and the celebration of individuality.
I grew up with the belief that having a slim body was considered ideal. There is a Vietnamese saying, “Body of a crane, bones of an apricot blossom twig,” which is used to describe a beautiful, slender female body. This standard was often applied to Vietnamese girls. While not overweight or obese, I have often felt pressure to be slimmer. My parents would regularly monitor my weight and emphasise the importance of being thin. This hurt my self-esteem, as I felt that I was not thin enough to deserve love or a romantic relationship. My perception of health and beauty changed when I watched the Olympic games in 2021 and I’ve come to realise that a beautiful and healthy body can come in so many different forms.
When we think of athletes—especially female athletes—the first images that often come to mind are the lean, muscular sprinters or the gracefully toned gymnasts. However, it’s important to recognize that the Olympics represent far more than these body types. With 40 sports on the roster, each demands a distinct kind of physical expertise, leading to a diverse range of body types among athletes.
Take, for instance, heavyweight athletes in shot put, boxing or weightlifting. They are athletes and plus-sized women. And not the “perfect” plus-sized we see in mainstream media with an hourglass figure and a slim face. These women have thick and chunky arms that can swing a 4 kg metal ball as far as 10m, big legs and thighs that can endure an overhead 100kg barbell. They are powerful.
Swimmers have broad shoulders and strong legs developed through years of cutting through water. Their physiques reflect the demands of swimming, which require both endurance and explosive speed.
Marathon runners have a lean physique optimised for stamina and long-distance running. Cyclists typically have lean, muscular legs for powerful pedalling, a compact upper body for aerodynamics, and a slim build to maximise speed and endurance. In contrast, rowers often have broad shoulders and a strong back for powerful strokes, along with firm legs and a solid core for stability and strength, resulting in a taller, more muscular build.
Each of these body types is a testament to the incredible ability of the human body to adapt and excel in various environments.
Even within the same sport, there can be significant body diversity. Indoor volleyball, for example is an interesting sport, where each position requires a different type of physique. Middle blockers are usually the tallest and focus on net coverage, while liberos, the shortest players, play a defensive role. The position that requires the strictest physique has to be spikers. Top spikers are tall and lean with muscular builds, enabling them to move quickly and strike a powerful attack; for instance, Annie Drews of America and Paola Egonu of Italy. However, their team also have ‘robust’ spikers who may be larger but are still exceptional spikers, making significant contributions to their teams, like Kathryn Plummer and Myriam Sylla. This is why volleyball is my favourite; it requires clever strategies based on each player’s unique strengths and physique rather than trying to fit them into a standard mould.
Then we get to sports like archery and shooting, where physical size and strength matter less than precision, focus, and control. Athletes in these sports come in all shapes and sizes, including some who don’t fit the traditional image of an ‘Olympian’ at all. Take Yejin Oh of South Korea, for example, who won a gold medal in 10m air pistol shooting. Looking at Yejin without her uniform, you might not guess that this seemingly ‘ordinary’ young woman would set a new record for the Olympic Female 10m Air Pistol event and bring home Korea’s first gold medal in the process.
Body diversity is essential. The varied representations in the Olympics send a powerful message, especially to young people who are constantly bombarded with narrow beauty standards. Seeing athletes who look like them and have bodies that aren’t typically celebrated in the mainstream media broadens their understanding of what is possible. It tells them that their body is capable of greatness, too, no matter its shape or size.
Although our understanding of body diversity is improving, there is still much discrimination against larger athletes in the world of sports. Global Sports Matters discussed how sports media, despite promoting the Olympics as an event of body positivity, recycled their stories every Games, emphasising the societal message that thin bodies are good at sports, while fat bodies are unathletic. You can read their article for more insights on “Creating Positive Space for Fat Athletes”.
Moreover, the broadcast of the Paralympic Games goes even further in celebrating body diversity by showcasing athletes with various disabilities who excel in their sports through exceptional adaptations. A video of Sheetah Devi, an armless female archer, has amassed over 60 million views on X, showing her hitting a bull’s-eye during the 1/8 elimination round of the women’s individual compound open event. It’s truly remarkable to see an archer without arms hit the bullseye—the most difficult target in archery—especially in a sport where arms are usually central to success. Witnessing these athletes achieve greatness challenges societal perceptions of disability and highlights that everyone, regardless of their differences, is capable of extraordinary accomplishments. The Paralympics further affirms that athletic excellence and determination have no limits.
The Olympics and Paralympics deliver a powerful message of body positivity and inclusivity, showcasing athletes of all shapes, sizes, and abilities. These Games remind us to celebrate and honour the diversity of the human form, inspiring us to embrace every body’s potential. As we applaud their achievements, we are also encouraged to challenge conventional standards and foster a deeper appreciation for the unique strengths that each individual brings to the table,
