U.S. Olympic wrestler Tamyra Mensah-Stock won gold this week, and her post-victory speech has gone viral for her passionate support of America.
“I surprised myself! It’s by the grace of God I’m able even to move my feet,” Mensah-Stock said. “I just leave it in his hands. And I pray that all the practice, the hell that my freaking coaches put me through, pays off. And every single time it does. And I get better and better. And it’s so weird that there’s no cap to the limit I can do. And I’m excited to see what I have next.”
When asked how it felt to represent her county, Mensah-Stock’s answer said it all.
“It feels amazing! I love representing the U.S. I freaking love living there. I love it. And I’m so happy I get to represent USA!”
“I’m so happy I get to represent USA!” pic.twitter.com/Y5CcjaPCbK
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) August 3, 2021
The joyful enthusiasm for her country has added a bit of needed joy to the anti-American sentiment expressed by other athletes at the Tokyo Games. Hammer thrower Gwen Berry frustrated many Americans after she turned away from the American flag during the National Anthem while on the podium after qualifying for the Olympics.
Berry threatened to protest if she won a medal during the Olympics. She placed 11th out 12 in the finals of her event.
Silver medal shot putter winner Raven Saunders raised her arms into an X on the podium following her victory. She claimed it was to support the oppressed in a likely violation of demonstrations rules in a “shout out” to all her LGBTQ community.
The most notable anti-American sentiment was among the U.S. women’s soccer team. Team members continued to kneel during the National Anthem before each game. Despite a stellar recording coming into the Games, the team took a stunning 3-0 loss in the first round and was later knocked out of medal contention by Canada.
Strangely, many Americans found themselves celebrating American athletes losing at the Olympic Games. Mensah-Stock has turned the momentum around, offering a powerful, emotional representation that shows what it means to compete for America.
The 300-million plus people of the nation may have found an unlikely hero to champion in the words of a young medalist who claimed, “I’m so happy I get to represent the USA!” The child-like joy sparks something deep within many Americans they may have missed for a long time.
That thing is called patriotism. We’ve had it during past wars. We’ve seen it in past Summer Olympic Games, especially those played in Los Angeles and Atlanta. Yet we’ve seemed to lack the same patriotism in recent years, as athletes choose to kneel, protest and sound off on their various dislikes and comment on their social justice causes.
Yes, we are a land that embraces freedom. You can get away with a lot of nonsense, including disrespecting the country that gives you your freedoms. But when a young athlete shows sheer joy over representing the flag and wraps herself in the red, white and blue like a baby in a blanket, there something that makes you want to smile.
