I don't dislike SML but I dislike her coach and that's the deciding factor. He's been suspect for a long time and I think it's more about him than his athletes kind of like Bela Karoly.
One of the most disappointing developments of the past 6 years has been this growing obsession with race. You really notice it in lots of the discourse around this olympics, including threads like these. Really sad. Love both athletes. Race has never been a factor in what I think of them. Will root for Syd who I've watched since she was 14.
I'm not going to lie, but because I'm white I will tend to cheer for the other white athletes, even if they are on a different team. Nothing personal I guess it's just a cultural thing I guess. It's kinda of like when black people voted for Obama because he was black. I have no prejudice towards people of color I just tend to cheer for people of my same color. Why would this be any different from other people's of color?
I appreciate your honesty. Now throw in the fact that many Americans here do not like African Americans getting all the attention and all the golds. It's called HATORADE.