Summary
This Winter Olympics has been one of the stranger and more controversial of the Olympic Games, given the advent of COVID and host China's record on human rights. Even so, athletes are trying to compete under enormous pressure at the highest levels. Amna Nawaz gets the perspective of former speed skater and Olympic great Apolo Ohno, the most decorated Winter Olympian in U.S. history.Five Facts
- Who is Apolo Ohno, and what is his background?
- When did Ohno compete in the Olympics and what awards did he earn?
- Why are these Olympics different from all those that have come before, according to Ohno?
- How has a new conversation started around athletes' mental health since the last Summer Olympics, according to this piece?
- What are the reasons conditions may be improving for athletes' mental health, according to Ohno?
Focus Questions
Do you think there could be more support for high schoolers expected to perform at a high level (either athletically, academically or otherwise)? What sort of support do you think could help? Media literacy: Why do you think the producers of this segment chose to interview Ono instead of an athlete who is competing this year? What does his perspective offer that a current competitor's might not?For More
For more on the pressures and hopes faced by Olympic athletes, see this story:Sign up for NewsHour Classroom’s ready-to-go Daily News Lessons delivered to your inbox each morning. Fill out this form to share your thoughts on Classroom’s resources.
