When Olympians stood for more than gold .

It’s impossible to invite countries worldwide to compete in a multi-sport event like the Olympics without politics seeping through. Athletes are humans, and to expect them to stay silent in the face of adversity and injustice is to diminish their voices on the very platforms where they were invited to showcase their talents to the world.

However, apoliticism is an expectation that the International Olympic Committee has for everyone participating in their games. Ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics, they issued theirDeclaration by the IOC against the politicization of sport, which states, “Sports organizations within the Olympic Movement shall apply political neutrality.”

Per the Olympian charter , " The mission of the IOC is to encourage Olympism throughout the world and to lead the Olympic Movement . The IOC ’s role is to play off any political or commercial abuse of play and jock . "

But what’s a gold medal worth when injustices occur all over the world? These 14 athletes stood for something during their appearance at the Olympics.

1.Jesse Owens

2.Tommie Smith and John Carlos

3.Feyisa Lilesa

4.Waseem Abu Sal

5.Noah Lyles

6.Věra Čáslavská

PerBBC , Czech gymnast Věra Čáslavská protested against Soviet - head invasions at the 1968 Olympics , where she turned her head out from the Soviet signal flag during the medal ceremonial occasion . It was a here and now when she publically defend the Soviet regimen and advocated for Czechoslovak independence .

7.Raven Saunders

8.Cathy Freeman

9.Ibtihaj Muhammad

10.Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, and other members of the US Women’s Soccer team.

11.Bohdana Matsotska

12.Gwen Berry

13.Muhammad Ali

14.Fethi Nourine

Judoka Fethi Nourine of Algeria claim on a 10 - year forbiddance from the International Judo Federation after withdrawing from a bout against Israel ’s Tohar Butbul at the Tokyo Olympics in solidarity with Palestine , the Guardianreports .

Topic Page 2024 Summer Olympics Eli Lilly badge

When Olympians stood for more than gold.

Jesse Owens, in athletic attire, starts a race at a stadium filled with spectators

ABC / Viayoutube.comPerBBC, Czech gymnast Věra Čáslavská protested against Soviet-led invasions at the 1968 Olympics, where she turned her head away from the Soviet flag during the medal ceremony. It was a moment when she publicly opposed the Soviet regime and advocated for Czechoslovak independence.

Tommie Smith and John Carlos stand on the Olympic podium with raised fists, while Peter Norman stands next to them

Feyisa Lilesa crosses the finish line with arms crossed over his head during a marathon, wearing athletic gear with "Ethiopia" and "Lilesa" printed on it

Waseem Abu Sal shows solidarity to the Palestinian cause at the Olympics.

Male athlete in USA jacket smiling and holding up a bronze Olympic medal

Raven Saunders at the Olympics, holding a bouquet and silver medal, arms crossed in an "X" above her head. They wears a white track jacket

Female athlete standing on a track, smiling with hands on hips, draped in flags post-race

Ibtihaj Muhammad wearing fencing gear and holding her mask, standing on a fencing strip

Megan Rapinoe and her teammates kneel on the soccer field during a game, wearing their team uniforms

Olympic skier Olena Bilosiuk, in blue and yellow gear, stands on the snowy slope during a race

Athlete on podium holds up a shirt reading "Activist Athlete" with a bouquet, obscuring their face, at a sports event

A young Muhammad Ali is seated, smiling, as a woman standing next to holds up the medallion around his neck