touching me, touching you - by brit - booritney

One of my favorite photos is Howard Schatz’s lineup of Olympians, which immediately challenges any singular idea of what an athlete should look like. Connie Price-Smith, a shot putter, is 6’3”, ripped, thick-thighed, and firmly planted. Tabitha Yim, a gymnast, is tiny—4’8”, flat-chested, slim-hipped, and 85 pounds. Joseph Chebet, who runs marathons, is short and scrawny, but unmistakably toned. Shane Hamann, a 370-pound weightlifter, has a stomach that rolls over his pants, the kind of mass that's required to lift heavy. As for me, an office worker with a respectable average step count of 9,495, I am 5’2”, stocky-legged, slightly hunched, and soft around the edges. Clearly, I am not an Olympian, but the photo reminds me that we share something in common: our bodies have been molded for and by our chosen activities. The Olympians have opted for world-class athleticism. I have selected more leisurely pursuits: cuddling, lounging, jogging, dancing, being squished, giving massages, and eat

One of my favorite photos is Howard Schatz’s lineup of Olympians, which immediately challenges any singular idea of what an athlete should look like. Connie Price-Smith, a shot putter, is 6’3”, ripped, thick-thighed, and firmly planted. Tabitha Yim, a gymnast, is tiny—4’8”, flat-chested, slim-hipped, and 85 pounds. Joseph Chebet, who runs marathons, is short and scrawny, but unmistakably toned. Shane Hamann, a 370-pound weightlifter, has a stomach that rolls over his pants, the kind of mass that's required to lift heavy. As for me, an office worker with a respectable average step count of 9,49