ATRadio: Leaps of Faith - Double Olympic Champion Christian Taylor

(ATR) The two-time defending Olympic gold medalist in the triple jump has lofty ambitions both on and off the track.

Guardar

(ATR) Christian Taylor has lofty ambitions both on and off the track.

The two-time defending Olympic triple jump champion certainly has his sights set on Tokyo in 2021, but considering the postponement, Taylor is equally determined to act as a catalyst for change as the new president of the Athletics Association. The organization is aiming to become a stronger voice for track and field athletes, entirely independent of the World Athletics governing body.

"We are striving to keep these governing bodies and athlete commissions accountable to make sure they are doing what we hope and believe they are doing," Taylor tells ATR’s Brian Pinelli in the latest video edition of ATRadio.

"We are hoping to work with them in a unique fashion – we are fighting the same fight."

The U.S. track and field star and the Athletics Association have issued a strong challenge while seeking change to the IOC’s Rule 50, which prohibits any form of athlete protests during Olympic medal ceremonies and on the field of play.

"It is clearly against our human right to [not] be able to express pain, grief, support, however you want to look at it in a peaceful manner, in a clear manner," Taylor said.

"It goes against the spirit of Olympism and it really goes against our human right."

Taylor acknowledges that athletes have the right to express any message or opinion in the mixed zone interview area but he insists that the impact of a peaceful protest at an Olympic medal ceremony is far greater.

"There is a significant weight that lies on that podium moment – the world is looking at you, the world is looking at that athlete, and that also shows how much power a protest at that moment can have.

"We are still talking about Dr. John Carlos to this day because of his actions, not because of what he did or did not say in the mixed zone or in the Olympic village, but what he did on the podium."

Homepage photo: Christian Taylor

Guardar

Últimas Noticias

Utah’s Olympic venues an integral part of the equation as Salt Lake City seeks a Winter Games encore

Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation chief of sport development Luke Bodensteiner says there is a “real urgency to make this happen in 2030”. He discusses the mission of the non-profit organization, the legacy from the 2002 Winter Games and future ambitions.
Utah’s Olympic venues an integral part of the equation as Salt Lake City seeks a Winter Games encore

IOC president tells Olympic Movement “we will again have safe and secure Olympic Games” in Beijing

Thomas Bach, in an open letter on Friday, also thanked stakeholders for their “unprecedented” efforts to make Tokyo 2020 a success despite the pandemic.
IOC president tells Olympic Movement “we will again have safe and secure Olympic Games” in Beijing

Boxing’s place in the Olympics remains in peril as IOC still unhappy with the state of AIBA’s reform efforts

The IOC says issues concerning governance, finance, and refereeing and judging must be sorted out to its satisfaction. AIBA says it’s confident that will happen and the federation will be reinstated.
Boxing’s place in the Olympics remains in peril as IOC still unhappy with the state of AIBA’s reform efforts

IOC president details Olympic community efforts to get Afghans out of danger after Taliban return to power

Thomas Bach says the Afghanistan NOC remains under IOC recognition, noting that the current leadership was democratically elected in 2019. But he says the IOC will be monitoring what happens in the future. The story had been revealed on August 31 in an article by Miguel Hernandez in Around the Rings
IOC president details Olympic community efforts to get Afghans out of danger after Taliban return to power

North Korea suspended by IOC for failing to participate in Tokyo though its athletes could still take part in Beijing 2022

Playbooks for Beijing 2022 will ”most likely” be released in October, according to IOC President Thomas Bach.
North Korea suspended by IOC for failing to participate in Tokyo though its athletes could still take part in Beijing 2022