Non-Binary Skateboarder Alana Smith Posts a Powerful Message at Tokyo Olympics

"Out of everything I’ve done, I wanted to walk out of this knowing I UNAPOLOGETICALLY was myself and was genuinely smiling," posted Smith to Instagram.

Alana Smith, a non-binary skateboarder from America who recently made their debut at the Tokyo Olympics, has been a beacon of encouragement for many. Following their participation in the women's street skateboarding competition, Smith took to Instagram to share an influential message. Although they ended up last in the third heat out of four on Sunday, their words revealed an optimistic perspective.

"The journey here has been absolutely wild… My objective was not just about winning but to bring joy and to serve as a visual example for individuals like me," Smith expressed in their social media post. "For the first time in my life, I feel proud of the person I have strived to be. I chose contentment over a medal."

Smith emerged as one of the 12 chosen athletes to represent the United States in the anticipated debut of skateboarding at the Olympics this summer. In a heartfelt Instagram post on Monday, Smith conveyed their feelings of authenticity and genuine happiness throughout the competition. They committed to being unapologetically true to themselves and believe they achieved that. The first-ever women's street skateboarding competition witnessed Japan's Momiji Nishiya winning the gold medal, silver went to Rayssa Leal of Brazil, and Funa Nakayama, another Japanese contender, clinched the bronze. Reflecting on their Olympic journey, Smith, who has previously disclosed about an attempted suicide, expressed feeling truly alive and a sense of belonging for probably the first time in many years. Their only wish was to feel this way.

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Last evening, Alana Smith, the non-binary skateboarder, expressed their moment of gratitude from a balcony. Although they do not affiliate with any religion, they thanked the unknown power that saved them on the fateful night they lay in the middle of a road," shared Smith via Instagram. They went on to express appreciation for the unwavering support they have received throughout their life's journey.

Smith is eager to rediscover their passion for skateboarding, beyond competitions. Interestingly, it was a contest that reignited their affection for the sport. Over the weekend, Smith's fans showered them with adoration on social media platforms, particularly because they had etched their pronouns, 'they/them', on their skateboard. One fan tweeted, "I don't think there's anything as joyous as watching Alana Smith skateboard at the Olympics."

The Tokyo Olympics was not without its hurdles for Smith, notably being misgendered by commentators while their performance was being analyzed. The athlete reportedly shared videos on Instagram Stories of fans correcting the error made during the Games commentary, as reported by TODAY. An apology has been issued by NBC Sports. "NBC Sports is committed to — and understands the importance of — using everyone's correct pronouns across our platforms," stated NBC via a press release, as per GLAAD, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. "During our coverage, our commentators used the correct pronouns, but we streamed an international feed not produced by NBCUniversal where Olympian Alana Smith was misgendered. We regret this error and apologize to Alana and our viewers." Apart from Smith, over 160 LGBTQ+ athletes from various nations are participating in the Tokyo Olympics, according to Outsports. Quinn, part of the Canadian women's soccer team, is the first openly transgender gay athlete competing at the Olympics. New Zealand's Laurel Hubbard, a transgender woman, is also competing in weight lifting. Despite several compelling storylines at the Tokyo Games, including gymnast Simone Biles' decision to prioritize her mental health, Smith and their empowering message will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact on the Olympic Games.