The Upset to Being a Thrower

As of this last week, going to Israel and being in the Maccabiah Games has been a serious dream come true, but with dreams, comes reality.

I have recently received my apparel which included the warmup jacket and pants, four t-shirts, a shirt and shorts for if I win a medal, ten pins, a hat, backpack, American Flag, a water bottle and water bottle holder, a luggage tag, and a book called Closing the Distance. I could not have been more excited. On top of that, my sneakers I ordered online for opening ceremonies had come in. Everything is falling into place…

Or so I would thought. My Cinderella story had to have a down fall. Uniforms. I get that when people think of track and field, they think of short, petite running girls and boys who are about as skinny as my pinky finger. There is a FIELD part of track and field too. Jumpers, Pole Vaulters, and everyone forgets about the throwers. Take a moment and go to Google and type in “shot putters”. Go ahead, I’ll wait…

There, take a look. All huge, muscular, definitely not a size two throwers. Of course, I don’t look like this, but I am not tiny! I am a proud size 14/16 6-foot tall college girl who likes to as Planet Fitness commercial has said “I LIKE TO LIFT THINGS UP AND PUT THEM DOWN.” (Insert a Russian accent if you must).

This being said, here’s what happened: I had received and email this morning from a woman at the Maccabi USA building (named will not be disclosed because she is wonderful for helping me out!) and she had said that because I was placed on the team late, there were no uniforms in my size (big shock!). She told me what they did have and did not have which included M, L, XL in men’s singlets, M, L, XL in the spilt shorts, M, L, XL in their long shorts and a medium for all the shorts, long shorts, and singlets for women. This being said, I think I can finally deduce that there are no other women’s throwers for Team USA.

I’ve been used to this before. Through high school and even college, I have never worn a women’s track uniform. Always, I have either worn a t-shirt, the warm ups or a men’s uniforms. Not going to lie, I’m a little furious, but I have to look on the bright side.

I am going to Israel to represent Team USA in a sport I love. I will meet 8,500 other Jewish athletes from 80 countries. This will certainly be an experience that I will never forget and I will not let a small issue like a uniform get me down.