Kerri Strug was part of the U.S. women’s gymnastics team at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. Strug pushed through her severely injured ankle from her first vault to land on one foot in her second vault before collapsing in pain. She was credited for helping Team USA win their first-ever team gold medal in women’s gymnastics.
This sense of invincibility confers an Idol status on elite performers. Idols are not human like the rest of us, so they are expected to be perfect. Society rewards this Idol status with medals, fame, fortune, and endorsement deals. In return for these privileges, idols must please their benefactors by hiding their shortcomings or risk losing their fan base, sponsorships, or esteem. According to the Irish Times, Biles said, “I feel like I’m also not having as much fun. This Olympic Games I wanted it to be for myself, but I came in and I felt like I was still doing it for other people. It hurts my heart that doing what I love has been kind of taken away from me to please other people.”
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