The Olympics Rely on, but Don’t Support, Black Girl Magic

In Tokyo, Naomi Osaka will compete for the first time since withdrawing from the French Open in May.Credit...Hiroko Masuike/The New York TimesFor better or worse, the Tokyo Olympics are finally here. And that means an extraordinary burden will fall again on the shoulders of a single group of athletes: Black women.

Simone Biles is one of the most brilliant talents at the Games. But if recent history holds and she tries her most stunning moves in Tokyo, gymnastics officials will place an arbitrary limit on her score. Some say this is meant to discourage other competitors from attempting similarly dangerous aerial maneuvers. I say the sport’s regulators cannot deal with her sheer audacity.

Naomi…