The internet is rallying around this Ethiopian swimmer who was fat-shamed.
We got your back, Robel.
Robel Kiros Habte, a swimmer from Ethiopia, will not be taking home a medal in Rio de Janeiro this summer ... to put it kindly.
The 24-year-old finished 59th out of 59 competitors in the 100-meter freestyle heats this week at the Olympics. He was the only swimmer to finish above one minute, clocking in 17 seconds slower (which is probably something like five months in swimmer time) than Australian swimmer Kyle Chalmers, whose time took the winning spot.
This Tweet from @UpfrontAfrica has been withheld in response to a report from the copyright holder. Learn more.— Jackson M'vunganyi (@Jackson M'vunganyi) 1470870776
Clearly, it wasn't Habte's best race.
To make matters worse, the internet seized on something that made Habte stand out amongst the line of Michael Phelps-esque physiques standing poolside.
Habte doesn't flaunt the sort of chiseled, six-pack builds people expect to see when swimming competitions come on.
Photo by Dominic Ebenbichler/Reuters.
As you might imagine, many of the reactions weren't too ... nice.
"How in the world did this Ethiopian swimmer ... qualify for the Olympics? Overweight & embarrassingly slow," one person wrote on Twitter. Another mocked him as "the greatest chubby swimmer in the Olympics."
It didn't take long for the nickname "Robel the Whale" to start cropping up across the web.
Heartbreakingly, the online bullying took a toll on Habte.
"It has been difficult," he admitted of the online hate to The Daily Mail, explaining he's taking a break from social media to tune it out.
"I don't know how I feel, but many things. Some of the things people have said or written are not nice. I am a nice person, I would not say these things about others."
Never mind the fact Habte was recently sidelined from his Olympic training for months due to a car accident injury — no athlete (or anyone, for that matter) deserves to be ridiculed for the way they look.
Fortunately, many folks spotted the fat-shaming hate floating around the web. And they were not here for it.
Seemingly overnight, Habte's very own fanbase began blossoming, coming to his defense:
Robel Kiros Habte is a legend. I love this Olympian #RioOlympics2016— Calvin Serrao he/him (@Calvin Serrao he/him) 1470855286
Robel Kiros Habte is my new hero. Give the guy some love. #Olympics— Edward Kuruvilla (@Edward Kuruvilla) 1470839542
Robel Kiros Habte wanted to do something different for his country at the Olympics.More power to you Robel !!👊🏾👊🏾👊🏾🙌🏾— Dem Man (@Dem Man) 1470844891
Y'all can criticize the Ethiopian swimmer for being fat, but he got to swim in the Olympics and you didn't. #boomroasted— Matt Szabo (@Matt Szabo) 1470885712
Israeli sports commentators now body-shaming an Ethiopian swimmer. Really nothing else to talk about at the #RioOlympics2016?— Amy Spiro (@Amy Spiro) 1470765629
#RobelKirosHabte made it to the Olympics and can swim stronger & faster than all you trolls sitting at home. He gained weight through injury— Lydia (@Lydia) 1470910640
As far back as the people in the stands who watched him compete? They had his back, too.
Ethiopia's Robel Kiros Habte finishes half a lap behind other swimmers in 100m free heat. Gets huge cheer after finishing. Love it #Rio2016— Dale Miller (@Dale Miller) 1470758683
Habte was invited to compete at the games through world aquatics sports group FINA as a means to include more athletes from under-represented countries, Reuters reported.
So, no — no one really expected him to be bringing home a medal. But his last place finish did raise some eyebrows about how he qualified in the first place.
Here's the thing, though: Despite some crying foul over the fact Habte's father is the head of Ethiopia's swimming federation, the athlete's finishing time is actually pretty incredible stacked up against the fastest swimmers to ever come out of his home country.
On the world stage, Habte may have seemed to move at a glacial pace, but in a country renowned for having some of the fastest athletes on land, Habte is a standout.
Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images.
As Slate's Elliot Hannon argued, he deserved to be there.
At the end of the day, Habte is simply following his dreams.
"I wanted to do something different for my country, that’s why I chose swimming," he told Reuters. "Everybody, every day you wake up in Ethiopia, you run. Not swimming. But I didn’t want to run, I wanted to be a swimmer."
"It didn’t matter where I finished."
Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images.
"I am so happy because it is my first competition in the Olympics," he said. "So thanks for God."
Don't listen to the haters, Robel Habte. Just keep swimming.
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12 non-threatening leadership strategies for women
We mustn't hurt a man's feelings.
Men and the feels.
Note: This an excerpt is from Sarah Cooper's book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings.
In this fast-paced business world, female leaders need to make sure they're not perceived as pushy, aggressive, or competent.
One way to do that is to alter your leadership style to account for the fragile male ego.
Should men accept powerful women and not feel threatened by them? Yes. Is that asking too much?
IS IT?
Sorry, I didn't mean to get aggressive there. Anyhoo, here are twelve non-threatening leadership strategies for women.
Encourage.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When setting a deadline, ask your coworker what he thinks of doing something, instead of just asking him to get it done. This makes him feel less like you're telling him what to do and more like you care about his opinions.
Sharing ideas.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When sharing your ideas, overconfidence is a killer. You don't want your male coworkers to think you're getting all uppity. Instead, downplay your ideas as just "thinking out loud," "throwing something out there," or sharing something "dumb," "random," or "crazy."
Email requests.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pepper your emails with exclamation marks and emojis so you don't come across as too clear or direct. Your lack of efficient communication will make you seem more approachable.
Idea sharing.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
If a male coworker steals your idea in a meeting, thank him for it. Give him kudos for how he explained your idea so clearly. And let's face it, no one might've ever heard it if he hadn't repeated it.
Sexism.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you hear a sexist comment, the awkward laugh is key. Practice your awkward laugh at home, with your friends and family, and in the mirror. Make sure you sound truly delighted even as your soul is dying inside.
Mansplain.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Men love explaining things. But when he's explaining something and you already know that, it might be tempting to say, "I already know that." Instead, have him explain it to you over and over again. It will make him feel useful and will give you some time to think about how to avoid him in the future.
Mistakes.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pointing out a mistake is always risky so it's important to always apologize for noticing the mistake and then make sure that no one thinks you're too sure about it. People will appreciate your "hey what do I know?!" sensibilities.
Promotions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Asking your manager for a promotion could make you seem power- hungry, opportunistic, and transparent. Instead, ask a male coworker to vouch for you. Have your coworker tell your manager you'd be great for the role even though you don't really want it. This will make you more likely to actually get that promotion.
Rude.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Sometimes not everyone is properly introduced at the start of a meeting. Don't take it personally even if it happens to you all the time, and certainly don't stop the meeting from moving forward to introduce yourself. Sending a quick note afterward is the best way to introduce yourself without seeming too self-important.
Interruptions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you get interrupted, you might be tempted to just continue talking or even ask if you can finish what you were saying. This is treacherous territory. Instead, simply stop talking. The path of least resistance is silence.
Collaboration.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When collaborating with a man, type using only one finger. Skill and speed are very off-putting.
Disagreements.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When all else fails, wear a mustache so everyone sees you as more man-like. This will cancel out any need to change your leadership style. In fact, you may even get a quick promotion!
In conclusion...
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Many women have discovered the secret power of non-threatening leadership. We call it a "secret power" because no one else actually knows about it. We keep our power hidden within ourselves so that it doesn't frighten and intimidate others. That's what makes us the true unsung heroes of the corporate world.
About the Author: Sarah Cooper
Sarah Cooper is a writer, comedian, and author of 100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings. Her new book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings, is out now.
The comedic book cover.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
A satirical take on what it's like to be a woman in the workplace, Cooper draws from her experience as a former executive in the world of tech (she's a former Googler and Yahooer). You can get the book here.
This article was originally published on March 25, 2019.