Characterizing Gender and Race in the 2000 Summer Olympics: NBC's Coverage of Maurice Greene,MichaelJohnson, Marion Jones, and Cathy Freeman

Abstract

Media representations of African Americans and indigenous peoples tend to follow stereotypical notions of both gender and race. Because African Americans and indigenous peoples are gendered and racialized simultaneously by media forces, this study examines how the television network, NBC, managed portrayals of three (3) celebrated Africna American athletes and one (1) Aboriginal athlete in Sydney's 2000 Olympic Games. Specifically, the study investigates media descriptions of Maurice Greene, Michael Johnson, Marion Jones, and Cathy Freeman. Findings reveal that media presentations of African Americans men attempt to moderate threatening imagery out of sport while also promoting nationalism, and (for Greene) amplifying threatening imagery in sport. Both African American and Aboriginal Women are feminized, and political activism carried out by Aboriginal athletes is heavily mitigated by liberal pursuits of multiculturalism, as well as feminized commentary.