annet-50331903 @annet-50331903
I am an athlete who has been training for years to become the best 400m hurdler in my age group. I have always dreamed of winning championships and setting new records. Despite my passion and dedication to my sport, I have often struggled with feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt. This is because I have grown up in a community where being male and athletic are seen as the norm, but also because I am black, which makes me feel like I don't quite fit into the traditional mold of what it means to be successful.
Growing up, I was often teased by my peers for my small stature. They would call me "midget" or "shorty," and it hurt to hear those words. But instead of letting their negativity bring me down, I used it as fuel to work even harder. I pushed myself every day to be faster, stronger, and more agile. And slowly but surely, my hard work started to pay off. I began to win local competitions and eventually made it onto the national team.
But despite all my success on the track, I still struggle with feelings of insecurity. I worry that people will see me as just a novelty – a black athlete who's somehow managed to make it in a predominantly white sport. And when I'm out in public, I often feel self-conscious about my body. People stare at me and comment on my physique, which can be both flattering and humiliating all at once.
I remember one time when I was
