Best Inspirational Moments (IMHO) from First Days of Rio Olympics

Not Burka vs. Burkini, but Athlete vs. Athlete

Ever since beach volleyball made its debut as an Olympic sport, sports writers and spectators have focused too much (in my opinion) on what athletes wear (bikinis) instead of the sport itself. This year, one of the most iconic visual moments thus far of the games has been when an Egyptian team competed against a German team – with the Egyptian team in covered uniform and the German team in the classic bikini uniform. Doaa El-Ghobashi and Nada Moawad are the first-ever women from Egypt to make it to the Olympic beach volleyball competition,. They lost resoundingly to Germans Laura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst, but it was their uniforms that people couldn’t get over — Doaa in full coverage plus a sports hijab, and Moawad in a covered uniform (sans hijab as well)

Bikinis aren’t actually compulsory for the beach volleyball players. According to this article, in 2012 “the sport’s governing body brought in a rule change allowing players to wear full body suits in cold weather – and plenty took that opportunity in the chill London air in the summer of 2012.”

Following the match and iconic photos of the players going head-to-head, headlines like “Burka vs Bikini” flooded social media. But to me, it was simply Athlete vs. Athlete.

We’re not even done with the first week of the Rio Olympics! What have been some of your favorite moments thus far?