The world of competitive figure skating is often seen as a realm of elegance and grace. This has been shaken by the disturbing reality of online harassment and death threats directed at Indian-American figure skater, Tara Prasad.
Who is Tara Prasad?
Tara Prasad is an Indian-American figure skater who has garnered attention for her dedication and pursuit of her Olympic dreams. She has made the choice to represent India in international competitions, a decision that underscores her connection to her heritage.
Tara is born in February 24, 2000, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United states. She has given up her US citizenship, to represent India. The fact that she has chosen to represent India, after having the option to compete for the United States, has increased the amount of attention that she receives.
She is a three-time Indian national champion (2022, 2023, 2025). She has earned silver medals at the 2024 Reykjavik International and the 2024 Skate Celje competitions. She has competed in the final segments of the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships.
Online abuse and Tara’s response
Recently, Prasad has become the target of online abuse, including death threats and hateful messages. These attacks, primarily delivered through social media platforms, have created a atmosphere of fear and concern for her safety.
The nature of the abuse often includes discriminatory remarks. The ease of access to athletes via social media, has increased the amount of abuse that many athletes are receiving.
Prasad has responded to the abuse by speaking out against it, using her social media platforms to raise awareness of the issue. Her courage in confronting her abusers has drawn praise from supporters and fellow athletes.
In a now-deleted Instagram story, she wrote: “It’s easy to send death threats, hatred, discriminatory messages. I hope you are proud of yourselves,” .
Continuing her message of resilience, Prasad added in a follow-up story: “At least research the challenges of figure skating first before you speak. I chose this path knowing these challenges, and I won’t give up.”
Tara also shared a powerful message on the personal significance of her career choice. “If I want a sports career latertask!! But I am doing it because, in life, I will be fully self-sufficient. It’s not an easy REPRESENTATION matters INTERNATIONALLY in sports like figure skating,” she said.
This situation with Tara Prasad has also sparked a wider discussion about the need for greater accountability and action to combat online harassment. There are calls for social media platforms to take greater action to prevent this type of abuse.
This situation also shows the difficulties that athletes face when they are trying to represent a country that they have not lived in their whole lives.
Tiyasa is an enthusiastic journalist with a passion for uncovering the truth and stating them in a compelling story. Whether it's chasing a breaking news story or crafting a deeply researched feature, she believes in the power of words to inform, entertain, and inspire. Apart from writing, she has a passion for learning different languages. When not chasing the deadlines, you can find her engrossed in either books or drama or listening to music, maybe even brainstorming for her next article over a cup of coffee.
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