This week, we have a special episode commissioned by InterGalactic Champion level Club Gym Nerd member Matt who, inspired by Queen Alexandra Raisman, requested an episode about athletes who were bold enough to make a difference in the quality of life for others. He said, "Thus, for my commissioned episode, I would like for you to name your All-Olympic team of difference makers. Honorees must be Olympic gymnasts from any country or era who made a positive impact." Let's do this! Here are the athletes we're naming to our Olympic team of difference makers. Team Captain Vera Caslavska, who bowed her head in the 1968 medal ceremony to protest Soviet incursion in Czechoslovakia Hong Un Jong and Lee Eun Ju—The North/South Korea selfie heard 'round the world The Kuwaiti gymnast who came to worlds in 1991 just after documenting the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait Sub-discussion - the Japanese leotard in 2012 Farah Ann Abdul Hadi and daring to (GASP) wear a leotard Agnes Keleti, who survived WWII by posing as a Christian maid to return to gymnastics and become the most decorated Jewish Olympian (to that point) Emilia Eberle, Jennifer Sey, Marcia Frederick, Dominique Moceanu, the 2011 Dutch team, and all others who have spoken out against abusive coaching 1996 Canadian Olympian Kris Burley, who came out after retiring in 1999 and later joined the COC's program to combat homophobia in sports Jeffrey Wammes, who came out in an interview with Linda Magazine in 2011, and continued competing until 2016 Alexis Brown of UC Davis, who kneeled during the national anthem during the 2017 season Mirabella Akhunu, who changed what you thought of when you thought Ukrainian 1968 beam champion Natalya Kuchinskaya, who said obvious things about coaching the person rather than the gymnast before people were ready to hear it Firsts from Dianne Durham and Wendy Hilliard All those responsible for the introduction of the vaulting table Olympians who spoke up during a major competition about safety: Allana Slater and Bart Deurloo FURTHER READING Chalking Up: My Life in Elite Gymnastics, by Jennifer Sey Nike is a Goddess: A History of Women in Sports, by Lucy Danziger (Agnes Keleti's story) SUPPORT THE SHOW Join Club Gym Nerd here. Buy our awesome clothing and gifts here. Worlds designs are available now! RELATED EPISODES 313: Best Floor Routines EVAH! (Commissioned) 312: 4th Is the New 1st (Commissioned) 309: Perfect Form – The O’Beirne Code (Commissioned) 308: 2004 Olympic All-Around Final (Commissioned) 306: Gymnastics Fails (Commissioned) 304: The GymCastic Olympics (Commissioned) 281: Myths, Legends, and Unexpected Moments PART 2 (Commissioned) 279: A Diva Is Magical: The Svetlana Khorkina Episode (Commissioned) 278: 2000 Sydney All-Around Final (Commissioned) 262: 1996 Olympic Event Finals (Commissioned) 258: The Fluff Cast (Commissioned) 256: 1996 Olympic All-Around Final (Commissioned) 255: 1996 Olympic Team Final (Commissioned) 252: Myths, Legends and Unexpected Moments in Gymnastics History (Commissioned) 228: Leotards (Commissioned) 225: 1992 Olympics Recap with Wendy Bruce (Commissioned) 185: 2008 Olympic All-Around Finals (Commissioned)   CONTEST   What: 5 winners get a copy of Miss Val’s book: Life is Short, Don’t Wait to Dance  Grand Prize: Book and 15 minute personal phone call with Miss Val. How to Enter: Using the #DontWaitToDance on Twitter or Instagram tag us @GymCastic with a 5 second video doing your favorite UCLA floor choreography. Doesn't have to be you, use your dog, fingers, make a friend do it.  Bonus entries: Link to the book. Enter as many times as you want.  When: Now to October 5th, 2018 *Conflict of Interest Disclaimer: Jessica's husband co-authored this book.