Athletes: Bravery In Heroes

Bravery in heroes can also be shown through defeating the odds by going against the norms and changing the course of history. In an article by Greenhaven Press many athletes prove that anything is possible, even if it is not the norm, “Courageous athletes are challenging social boundaries and giving hope: female auto racer Danica Patrick has risen to prominence in a traditionally male-dominated sport, and NBA player Jason Collins became the first male athlete gay.” These athletes did not care what other people thought of themselves, they did the things they loved. Obviously, people scorned them because they should not belong, but they did not care. They broke the norm, which is a brave action because not everyone is able to do that. These athletes
Bravery not only led to racial movement, it also influenced women’s rights, “Female tennis player Billie Jean King legitimized women's sports and bolstered the feminist movement by beating male tennis champion Bobby Riggs.” (Greenhaven Press) Similar to Jackie Robinson, Billie Jean King changed the social norms by being brave. The battle between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs was called “The Battle of the Sexes”. For years women have been subordinate to men and King’s match against Riggs helped propel the women’s rights movement. She proved that women were a force to be reckoned with and that they should not be put down. King’s bravery makes her a hero because she stood up for what she believed in and disregarded all the humiliation and negativity from the men to give women more rights. From that day on women began to participate in more sports than ever before. Many athletes prove to be brave; hence, being considered heroes to many kids. They show that through determination and hard work anything is possible. By being brave and taking a stand you can change the world. Brave people usually risk their lives for others, also making them