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The Skinny Struggle: Seilala Sua on Body Image
Seven-time NCAA champion and 14-time All-American, the most winningest athlete in NCAA track & field history
I wanted to be a cheerleader...or so I thought. I wanted all the girly stuff—cute shoes and tiny bracelets. But, it wasn’t meant to be. I have always been the biggest girl in my class. School picture day? Straight to the back row I went. Heading to the beach? I always wore a t-shirt over my bathing suit to cover my body.
I remember coming home from kindergarten one day and asking my mom why my feet don’t dangle like the other girls when I sit on a chair. You see, I was taller, and my feet landed smack on the ground. Boom. And Boom. It would have been dainty to swing my feet under the chair underneath me like the other girls. When you’re little, all you want is to fit in.
My mom knew better. She never let me get upset about my body—and not looking like other girls. Not for one second. When other people would stare or say hurtful things, she taught me to see that as their problem,not mine. She told me from the beginning that we all have different designs—and one day I’d realize what mine was built to do. And I did.
I finally understood what my body was good at when I tried softball. I instantly felt like I was at home with other girls who were strong like me. It was magic. How fun to be around friends who thought a strong arm was more important than perfect nails!
Now I am 5 feet 11 inches tall. And I’m not embarrassed to tell you I weigh 235 pounds. I am comfortable in my skin. I’ve worked really hard on my body, training and weight lifting, to become a good thrower. Those body parts that used to make me uncomfortable are now what make me a success.
I used to hate my big, boyish hands. Now, if you asked me what my favorite body part is, I’d say it was those same hands. Those hands threw the discus and shot put that took me to the Olympic Games. They never seem to get injured. This body connects me to my dreams.
Sometimes I hear girls say,“I don’t want to lift weights, ‘cause I don’t want to get big.” They think that big isn’t cute. Guess it’s about what you want. If you want to be an athlete, you have to be proud to be strong.
No matter what, don’t compare yourself to other girls. It just doesn’t make sense. We are each built differently. What’s important is being happy with yourself and finding out what your body is really good at doing. Maybe it’s cheerleading, or maybe it’s track or karate. For me, it’s throwing, and I’ve built my life on it.
And by the way, I don’t wear a t-shirt over my swimsuit anymore.
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