As a gay man and a person of colour, I faced horrible stereotyping but new film is helping pave a different wayDisney has always been at the heart of breaking down barriers in society and swims against the tide in its diverse casting and smashes the patriarchal system out of the water. As Disney celebrates its 100th year, I can’t help but reflect on what Disney has taught me; that anything is possible.Disney might be fiction, but our youth of today look up to the characters as role models so who Disney represent and how they represent them is real. That means the repercussions of racism and abuse towards Disney characters can be damaging and impactful as racism towards people....
Neil Simpson is visually impaired and he and his brother have set the pace while Ukrainian athletes have led the way with their courageWhen Neil Simpson set off on his gold medal-winning run in the men’s super-G, I remember looking at the start and thinking “… interesting”. Normally, when you watch visually impaired skiers there’s a connection: the guide goes off and the skier follows straight behind. But that’s not how Neil and his brother Andrew do it. When the bell goes Andrew just flies out. His approach is: I’m going to ski down this hill as fast as I can and you’ve got to catch me.At the age of 19 and 21 it’s the exuberance and naivety of youth,...
A stark transformation means Britain have a shot at achieving their best ever Winter Olympic medal haul in BeijingOn an island not known for its snow or ice, something is stirring. Not so long ago when Team GB turned up at the Winter Games, they left with their medal cupboard looking barren or bare. Sure, there was the occasional highlight – and those of a certain age will see Robin Cousins, Torvill and Dean and Rhona Martin in their mind’s eye – but as a winter sports country, Britain carried a distinct whiff of Eddie the Eagle: harmless and a little bit hapless.The transformation has been stark. Between 1952 and 2010, the nation won just 12 medals in 16 Winter...
It’s time to ditch the old cliches and to change the way we think about Olympic athletes, who are humans rather than robotsChris Boardman signalled the shift when he summed up British Cycling’s performance at the Tokyo Olympics: “Fewer medals but a better story.” What could he mean? We all know sporting performance pushes forward. Innovation never stops as athletes look deeper and search further to raise their game. The new territory this time is fresh vocabulary, human stories and different thinking.The Paralympics are poised to begin, the Beijing Winter Olympics follow next year, with Paris 2024 not so far away. Olympians of different ages and from different nations are challenging us to shift our mindsets and broaden the lens...
After losing in the quarter-finals I was distraught – a week later the hurt is still raw but there are reasons to smileI have been home from the Olympics for a few days and, while the hurt is still raw, I am feeling so much better than I did last Tuesday in Tokyo. Then, after I lost a split decision in my lightweight quarter-final against Sudaporn Seesondee of Thailand, I felt distraught. I had missed an Olympic medal on a 3-2 verdict.I am only 20 but I am not naive. Even before I won two fights to reach the quarters I had said the Olympic Games can make or break your dreams. I know it’s an unforgiving arena. But I...