Olympian Ari Ramsey, fresh off a bronze medal win in Rugby at the Paris 2024 Olympics, has captured widespread attention for her surprise and enthusiasm about the event’s comprehensive healthcare services.
Documenting her experience on TikTok, Ramsey has shed light on a benefit that has been available to athletes since the 1932 Games: free healthcare.
In a viral TikTok video, Ramsey expressed her astonishment after receiving a free Pap smear and booking additional appointments for dental care and an eye exam.
“Okay, y’all, not only do we have free food in the Village, but we have free healthcare! I literally just got a Pap smear for free, and I have a dentist appointment and an eye exam next week. Like, what?” she exclaimed.
Ramsey’s reaction has sparked a broader discussion about the healthcare disparities between the United States and other high-income countries.
In a follow-up video, the 24-year-old athlete voiced a poignant critique of the U.S. healthcare system, stating:
“America needs to do better with its healthcare system because there’s no reason why I, an American, should be so shocked by free healthcare.”
Her comments underscore a significant gap: while the U.S. remains the only high-income country without universal healthcare, many nations, including those participating in the Paris Olympics, offer citizens free or heavily subsidized healthcare services.
Ramsey’s surprise highlights the contrast between the comprehensive healthcare access enjoyed by Olympic athletes and the challenges faced by many Americans in navigating their own healthcare systems.
