Welcome to our 9th #aroundtheworld! Today, we will be discussing 5 Asian American Athletes that are changing the game. Enjoy our article on Naomi Osaka, Audrey Chin, Maia Shibutani, Amy Chow, and Kristine Yamaguchi!
Naomi Oasaka
Naomi Osaka, the winner of the 2020 US Open is a young woman of Japanese and Haitian descent. From 2018 through 2020, she has won a Grand Slam singles title in three consecutive years. Osaka is one of the most marketable athletes in the world, building on her status as a Grand Slam singles champion, her multi-ethnic background, and her candid personality. Osaka is an inspiration to girls both young and old, especially to those who love the game of tennis. At 22, she continues to show girls that dreams can come true even at a young age. Osaka played seven matches and wore seven different masks with the names of those heavily discussed in the recent Black Lives Matter movement. The names she proudly wore each day were Breonna Taylor, Elijah McClain, Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Martin, George Floyd, Philando Castile and Tamir Rice.
Audrey Chin
Audrey Tiffany Chin is an American figure skating coach and former competitor. She is a two-time World bronze medalist, a two-time Skate America champion, and the 1985 U.S. national champion. Figure skating has historically been viewed as a White sport, so Chin’s success in that space created an opportunity for future Asian American skaters. To that end, the media’s coverage of Chin offers insight into how the ‘differences’ of Asian American female skaters were initially registered, constructed, and communicated in a racialized and gendered way.
Maia Shibutani
Maia Harumi Shibutani is an American ice dancer. Partnered with her brother Alex Shibutani, she is the 2018 Olympic bronze medalist, a three-time World medalist, the 2016 Four Continents champion, and a two-time U.S. national champion. In 2018, she was diagnosed with a tumor which fortunately the doctors were able to remove and she was back in the sport after two years proving the fact that an illness wasn't going to stop her from pursuing her passion.
Amy Chow
Amy Yuen Yee Chow is a retired American artistic gymnast who competed at the 1996 and 2000 Summer Olympics. She is best known for being a member of the Magnificent Seven, which won the United States' first team gold medal in Olympic gymnastics. She is also the first Asian-American woman to win an Olympic medal in gymnastics.
Kristine Yamaguchi
If you’re an Asian-American woman of a certain age, chances are Yamaguchi might also have been one of the first Asian-American women you saw being publicly celebrated. Kristine Tsuya Yamaguchi is an American former figure skater. In ladies' singles, Yamaguchi is the 1992 Olympic champion, a two-time World champion and the 1992 U.S. champion. As a pairs skater with Rudy Galindo, she is the 1988 World Junior champion and a two-time national champion. In December 2005, she was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame.
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This is an Around the World article, a weekly rundown on 5 amazing women from around the world. To read more incredible stories like this one, check out our article on 5 Female Scientists from Around the World and to read a another type of article, read our latest Woman of the Week, Althea Gibson! Also, make sure to follow us at @likeagirlglobal on Instagram for more updates and content!
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