Twitter Users Defend Bodyshamed Gymnast

By Brian Delpozo 1 min read

Many online quickly rushed to the defense of a Mexican gymnast this week after she was bodyshamed while competing at the Rio games.

22-year-old Alexa Moreno finished overall in 31^st place in the gymnastics competition, an impressive showing considering the relatively small size of her country’s gymnastics program and infrastructure.

However Moreno’s athletic achievements were lost in the shuffle on Twitter where her body came under attack by some. Despite only being 4-foot-10 and weighing 99 pounds, some users mocked the gymnast’s body.

According to Today, in one now-deleted tweet, a user posted a photo of a cartoon pig with a caption that read, “Exclusive pictures of Alexa Moreno at the end of her gymnastic routine.” Another deleted tweet that was translated from Spanish said, “Alexa Moreno has the body of two gymnasts, a diet before going to Rio would have been good.”

While some mocked Moreno, many others jumped to her defense, defending her body and praising her incredible athletic abilities.

You are talented, beautiful and I wish I had those strong legs!! You have a great future ahead #AlexaMoreno pic.twitter.com/2rcPFOxHcS

— Spicy Latina Mom (@spicylatinamom) August 10, 2016

https://twitter.com/ScarlettEArcher/status/763271151346999296

#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

https://twitter.com/oxminaox/status/763766191152173056

#AlexaMoreno keep going girl !! pic.twitter.com/fyJD8n6orm

— Angie RrAa (@aAngieE8) August 11, 2016

Hopefully the amount of defenders Moreno got are a sign that internet body-shaming culture will one day be a thing of the past.