As U.S. swimmer Katie Ledecky raced to the finish in the women’s 800 freestyle at the Rio Olympics, the world would soon have a new record holder. Michael Phelps tied for silver in the 100 butterfly that same day and headlined almost all forms of media over Ledecky.

The Olympics are supposed to provide a platform for women and men to make use of all their hard work and show the world why they are the best athletes in their respective sport. The U.S. women took home 61 out of the 121 medals that the U.S. won as a country, according to NPR.

But because of gender inequality fans of the summer games are seeing the successes of Ledecky, Simone Biles and so many more women as a backdrop to Phelps and the drama of Ryan Lochte.

The common theme of women taking a backseat to men is something that we see everyday and have become so accustom to that we have learned to live with it and accept it. Women, no matter what profession, are no different from men and have worked just as hard to get where they are.

Olympian Michelle Carter is the first American to win gold in shot put. Her achievement is not being widely publicized because critics are focusing on her extreme muscular build and how it does not express her femininity.

A person’s physique and muscularity is something they have put time into and worked on and is not dependent or decided by gender. Carter needs the build she has in order to compete in her sport, just like a man.

The Rio Olympics allowed both genders to come together for a common goal. The achievements of men and women should be celebrated and not hidden or downgraded because of normalities and stereotypes.