Olympic athletes deserve some slack for emotional reactions after competition

This is a column by Shireen Ahmed, who writes opinion for CBC Sports. For more information about CBC's Opinion section, please see the FAQ.

When U.S. speed skater Erin Jackson won gold in the 500m, she barely had time to process her victory before she was overcome with emotion. The photos of Jackson, the first Black woman to win an Olympic medal in this sport, perfectly captured what this win meant for her.

Jackson's road to Beijing was not seamless but the story is incredible. During the Olympic trials Jackson fell during competition and Brittany Bowe (who placed first) gave up her spot on the team so Jackson could go to the Olympics.

The U.S. ended up having another spot, so Bowe ended up going, too. She placed 16th at the event.

As Jackson sat crying with joy, the world revelled that she was the Olympic champion. This was a win for speed skating, for the Black community, and particularly for that U.S. team. I thought a lot about Jackson, Bowe and their camaraderie, but also the raw emotions on display at the Olympics.

*BRB SOBBING INTO MY HIJAB* <a href="https://t.co/qQq7Aa9bg5">https://t.co/qQq7Aa9bg5</a>

We have seen other athletes thrilled for their friends and opponents, including American Ashley Caldwell, who won silver in the women's aerials — the same event where her friend and competitor Mengtao Xu of China clinched the gold. I was a puddle just watching them hold each other through tears after their bodies were most likely exhausted from exertion and adrenaline.

Friends first ❤️<br><br>Defending Olympic champion Ashley Caldwell was absolutely thrilled for China's Mengtao Xu after Xu won gold in women's aerials on home soil <a href="https://t.co/JmFiwQRWmQ">pic.twitter.com/JmFiwQRWmQ</a>

But it isn't always