Patriotic First Black American Woman To Win Wrestling Gold Thrilled To Be Role Model For Young American Women
American wrestler Tamyra Mensah-Stock recently made history by winning gold in the women’s 68-kilogram freestyle final on Tuesday, becoming the second woman to do it for Team USA in wrestling.
Mensah-Stock is also the first black woman from the US to win a wrestling gold medal at the Olympics.
However, as other US Olympians have been more concerned with protesting at the Tokyo Olympics against the US, Mensah-Stock was the opposite.
Following her win, the ecstatic African-American wrestler praised her family, team, her country, the American flag and God.
“These young women are going to see themselves in a number of ways and they’re going to look up there and go, I can do that,” Mensah-Stock said. “I can see myself.”
After her win, Mensah-Stock also couldn’t hold her happiness — and in her post-match interview, she gushed over all those who helped her succeed — as she draped the American flag around her shoulders.
“I’m so happy I get to represent USA!” pic.twitter.com/Y5CcjaPCbK
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) August 3, 2021
“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 the US at the Olympics, Mensah-Stock gave a patriotic response which American fans have been missing in sports lately.
Mensah-Stock: “I’m so happy I get to represent USA”
“It feels amazing,” Mensah-Stock commented on representing her country. “I love representing the US,” she added, as she raised her hands up in the shape of a heart.
“I freaking love living there, I love it, and I’m so happy I get to represent U-S-A,” she said.
Wow 🇺🇸🔥❤️
— Cernovich (@Cernovich) August 3, 2021
When the reporter mentioned that her father died when she was in high school, Mensah-Stock broke down crying — saying that with her achievements, her father would have been the proudest on the planet.
“He would’ve been the loudest one here,” Mensah-Stock said. “He would be so proud. He would be so happy.”
The 28-year-old gold medalist entered the Olympics beating Japan’s Sara Dosho, China’s Feng Zhao, and Ukraine’s Alla Cherkasova to advance to the wrestling finals against Blessing Oborududu of Nigeria, a three-time Olympian.
“Well, you’ve got to beat the best to know that you’re the best,” Mensah-Stock said. “And that’s what I keep telling myself. It doesn’t matter the draw. You go out there and you beat whoever is in front of you because that’s how you tell somebody that you were the best. I’m a bad draw.”
The Guardian reported that Mensah-Stock will receive $37,500 for winning gold and she would give most of it to her mother — for a food truck.
“I wanted to give my mom $30,000 so she can get a food truck. It’s her dream,” the publication reported. “My mom’s getting her food truck! She’s going to have a little cooking business. She can cook really, really, really well – barbecue. I don’t eat it because I’m a pescatarian now.”
Role model for other young black women
Meanwhile, in her post-match, Mensah-Stock said she is “thrilled” to be a role model for other young black women.
“These young women are going to see themselves in a number of ways, and they’re gonna look up there and go. I can do that ’cause I can see myself,” Mensah-Stock said. “Look at this natural hair! Come on. I mean, sure, I brought my puff balls out so they can know you can do it, too.”
Contrary to Mensah-Stock’s show of patriotism, observers earlier noted how some American athletes in the Olympics have done the opposite.
Olympic shot putter Raven Saunders, for example, was seen protesting on the podium by forming an “X” with her arms, while hammer thrower Gwen Berry turned her back to the flag during the National Anthem. The entire US women’s soccer team also took a knee before their first Olympic match in a supposed show of solidarity with calls against racism.
Berry failed to medal at the Olympics, Saunders’ action came under scrutiny by the International Olympic Committee, while the US women’s national soccer team lost to Canada in the Tokyo Olympics semifinal.
_______________________________________________
Download ‘The Scoop TV’ video streaming app, the Conservative Alternative to Netflix!
- If you have an iPhone, click here to download the iPhone app from the Apple App Store.
- Or if you have an Android phone, click here to download the Android app from the Google Play Store
