| © REUTERS/Damir Sagolj Alexa Moreno (MEX) of Mexico competes on the floor during the women’s qualifications. |
Mexican gymnast Alexa Moreno is a wildly talented athlete who can do more flips than 99.9% of the general population, and yet the general population went right ahead and body-shamed her anyway. Because that’s what mean and terrible people on the web are best at doing. This story, however, has a happier ending than most instances of people saying horrible things to women on the internet: An army of Twitter supporters quickly came to Moreno’s defense.
La gimnasta mexicana Alexa Moreno en su segundo salto. Ya fue eliminada la muy pig. pic.twitter.com/fIbmbqzOAJ— El Patriota (@DonZambucas) August 8, 2016
Moreno competed in the uneven bars, vault, balance beam, and floor. During her events, one account posted a picture of a cartoon pig (pictured above) and added the words – translated from Spanish – “Gymnast Mexican Alexa Moreno, the pig, was already eliminated in her second jump.” There were many more like it, too.
#AlexaMoreno You go girl, proud of you. You’re talented and beautiful! pic.twitter.com/0QptVph3dk— James Joyner (@JJDres) August 10, 2016
Unless you’re capable of doing what #AlexaMoreno can do. Don’t comment on anything other than what an accomplishment it is to be an Olympian— Harold. Jr (@hman357) August 10, 2016
You are a true inspiration #AlexaMoreno pic.twitter.com/vOgJSFLtWs— LeDonneFormose (@LeDonneFormose) August 9, 2016
#AlexaMoreno has more talent and grace in her fingernail than many of those haters have in their entire bodies. #CarryOn— DrTMG (@DrTMG) August 10, 2016
If these posts make your blood boil (or want to scream at your computer screen, etc.), you’re not alone: News of these tweets spread, and, in a stunning show of solidarity, Twitter rose to the occasion. The platform soon filled up with people sending Morales messages of support, telling her she’s beautiful, and cheering her on for performing amazing feats of physical strength and grace on the world stage.