A Gymnast’s Sour Face Meme Has Turned Into a Bully’s Meme

When it comes to the Olympics, Michael Phelps is undoubtedly one of the most decorated Olympians in history. But, even the most talented swimmer is not immune to ridicule, especially when he is trying to defend his record number of gold medals. And when Phelps was photographed scowling at his competition, the Internet exploded with hilarious memes that put the Olympian’s disdain for his rival in stark relief.

McKayla Maroney

One of the most popular gymnastics memes of all time is a picture of US gymnast McKayla Maroney during the 2012 Olympic medal ceremony. The 16-year-old was a favorite to win gold in the vault event, but she fell during her final jump and ended up with the silver medal behind Romania’s Sandra Izbasa. As she stepped onto the podium to receive her silver medal, Maroney scowled with her mouth twisted slightly to one side. The Internet pounced on the picture, turning it into a sour face meme that’s now seen across Tumblr. The image is now used to represent the expression of utter dissatisfaction with nearly anything, from Mozart’s first performances to the moon landing.

It’s a good thing that Maroney is a proponent of body positivity, because her “McKayla is not impressed” face has also become a target for vicious Instagram trolls. The gymnast has spoken out against the bullies who use her meme to call her fat and ugly, but she also has a message for the haters. “Don’t hate because you can’t dance; dance because you can,” she wrote in an Instagram post earlier this week, according to Cosmopolitan.

She continued: “I know that I can be an inspiration to others and make a difference in the world, so I will continue to work hard and be confident in myself no matter what anyone says.”

While some of the other gymnasts in the Fierce Five have taken the same approach to online bullying, Maroney hasn’t shied away from it. In fact, she once recreated her iconic sour face for a photo with then-President Obama.

Although she retired from gymnastics this year, Maroney is still making the rounds for a movie and promoting her new book. She is a role model to many, and her message is one that everyone should take to heart. If you need a reminder of what it means to love yourself no matter what people say, look at this picture of Maroney and remember that your body is beautiful and you should celebrate it. Just don’t do it while wearing a gold-medal-winning hat, because that’s just not cool.