At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Black women athletes talked openly about vulnerability, mental health, competing against themselves, supporting others (even “rivals”), and past failures. Simone Biles led the way, especially when we think about mental health and Black girl magic. Let’s look at some standout moments for some Black women throughout the games.
Therapy was Part of the Preparation
The All-Around Gold Medal Gymnastic winner told Good Morning America, “Staying on my weekly therapy sessions and even whenever I was here, I was scheduling appointments with my therapist that could work, whether it was early in the morning for me or early in the morning for her,” Biles said, speaking about how she’s balanced everything at the Games. “Staying on top of that meant the world to me, but also it helped me with my performances.”
Dr. Marcia Faustin (aka Dr. Marcy) was one of the women supporting the USA Gymnastics Team.
You might remember the scandal involving the doctor who was supposed to be the medical advisor to the Olympic gymnasts. The new team comprises Dr. Ellen Casey and Dr. Marcia Faustin, who share the USA Gymnastics Team Doctor title. Dr. Marcy looked after Bile’s calf issue during the qualifying round. She also helped Lee get appropriately diagnosed and find treatment for her kidney issues. But this kind of support helped the team get to the gold.
 Pretty was Not Integral to the Performance
When Biles received criticism about her hair, it seemed reminiscent of Gabby Douglas’s judgment when she competed. Douglas was sixteen in 2016, and those comments went straight to her heart. Biles is 27, a seasoned competitor who responded, “The next time you want to comment on a Black girl’s hair, JUST DON’T.”
Celebrating Sisterhood Beyond Borders
The 2024 Gymnastic Floor Exercise Medal Ceremony was an International Black Girl Magic Moment for the ages. Because it was spontaneous, genuine, well-deserved, and an example of sisterhood. Rebecca Andrade delivered a flawless performance, and Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles knew they were part of a historic moment. It needed to be acknowledged.
A Balanced Career: Athlete and Healthcare Pro
When you see Gabby Thomas race, you can’t imagine she has time for anything else. However, the 200-meter sprinter who has already taken home gold from this year’s games and won two previous medals in Tokyo still makes time to work part-time in health care. Thomas has an undergraduate degree in neurobiology from Harvard and a master’s in public health from the University of Texas Health Science Center. Thomas volunteers her time at a clinic for uninsured people. The sprinter told CNBC, “The way I became successful in track and field was running track part-time,” she said. “And I think that’s really important for my mental health, just having other things in my life that helped fulfill, you know, my goals and make me feel fulfilled.”
Break Your Own Records
In the 400-meter hurdles, 25-year-old Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone isn’t racing against anyone else on the field. She is trying to beat the clock. McLaughlin-Levrone had already shattered the world record five times. She kept her eye on the hurdles in this race and left the field in the dust. She broke her world record for the sixth time by completing 400 meter hurdles in 50:37 and Won Olympic gold for the second time.
 A Golden Redemption
Almost four years ago, long jumper Tara Davis-Woodhall struggled with body image issues and bouts of depression so debilitating it was difficult for her to get out of bed. Although she had been an athlete since childhood, she no longer wanted to train. “Mentally, I was in a dark place,” Davis-Woodhall said at a media roundtable in New York earlier this year. “I just didn’t want to be here anymore.” The domino effect of transferring schools to COVID-19, recovering from a fractured back, and trying to connect with her new teammates had taken its toll.
“She also said this spring that she got more comfortable with her body image, embracing the more muscular arms and shoulders she used to hide under a hoodie in high school.”
“I couldn’t be myself for a while, and it sucked. It sucks not being able to just be free,” she said. “And now that I am, I am not going back.”
By being herself, Davis-Woodhall won her first Gold medal jumps 22 feet, 9 inches, 23-1 3/4, and 23-3 1/2.
It’s Hammer Time
We must shout Annette Echikunwoke for her strength and skill in throwing the hammer. This is a track event in which athletes throw the “hammer,” a ball attached to a grip by a steel wire. But she is the first American to ever medal in this sport—she won gold!
Black Women are Integral to Creating Winning Teams
We are excited that four Black women, anchored by Sha’Carri Richardson, won gold in the 4×100 relay. It’s the 12th time we’ve won, but we know sisters from other countries are on our heels. However, including Gabby Thomas in the runners’ lineup increased their likelihood of securing a win.
Black girls are integral to team wins throughout the Olympic Games from gymnastics to swimming. But to see us represented in events like fencing, where Lauren Scruggs, the first Black woman to win an individual medal in foil, is indeed magical. She won a silver medal in the finals against her teammate, Lee Keifer. Then, Scruggs was the anchor when the team played against Italy and helped them win gold. She’s 21 and a first-time Olympian, to boot.
Let’s continue to take our magic and talents to new horizons and conquer them.
