PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 26: Flavor Flav speaks during a Team USA Water Polo press conference at the Main Press Centre on July 26, 2024 in Paris, France.
American Women have been dominating the 2024 Paris Olympics Games and have been responsible for a staggering majority of Team USA's medals. On day 8, Vincent Hancock was the first male athlete for the U.S. to win an individual gold medal, with first place in Men’s Skeet Shooting, while Torri Huske won USA’s first individual gold on day 2.
History has been rewritten by the women in red, white, and blue. Katie Ledecky set a record for the most swimming medals won by any woman in Olympics history, with 13 medals after the 4x200-meter freestyle relay victory. Ledecky has continued to seal her name in the record books, including being the first female swimmer to win gold at four different Olympic Games.
There is no conversation about Olympic G.O.A.T’s without talking about Simone Biles. She is in a league of her own and has the medals to prove it. Biles is the first U.S. Olympic gymnast to win two all-around gold medals. She held the record for most Olympic gold medals won by a male or female American gymnast with 6, then broke it again by winning her 7th after earning the gold in Vault.
Historically, due to their dominance, Americans have always followed women’s swimming and gymnastics during the Olympic season. But what about the other sports?
Rapper Flavor Flav took notice of the lack of attention and financial support the majority of the female Olympians received, and wanted to change the narrative. After learning members of the US women's water polo team that has won gold in the past three Olympics have had to work multiple jobs outside of their intense training, Flavor Flav signed an unprecedented five-year sponsorship deal, including a substantial but undisclosed monetary donation and becoming the “official hype man” with appearances and public support.
This energy has been contagious and more celebrities have followed suit.
“I compete in the Olympic Games TOMORROW and can’t even pay my rent,” Veronica Fraley (@vmfraley), Olympic discus thrower representing the U.S. posted on X.
Hours later, Flavor Flav sent her enough to pay one month's rent, but Reddit Co-founder Alexis Ohanian sent $7,760 to the athlete. Ohanian, husband of tennis superstar Serena Williams, has a history of supporting women’s sports by donating to female athletes, teams, and social media platforms dedicated to boosting women in sport.
Women's sports have turned into must-see events. The gymnastics arena has seen the likes of Lady Gaga, Tony Hawk, Michalel Phelps, Kendall Jenner, Ariana Grande, Mariska Hargitay Seth Rogan and so many more. They not only come to watch, but also share the greatness they witness on their social media platforms with millions of followers.
There has never been more attention on female athletics than right now, and it is well deserved. The spotlight will continue to shine brighter as more celebrities prove that if you build it, they will come.
