Talent is Non-Discrimatory
The world of sports is constantly revolutionizing the standard of play. From new techniques, new rules, and new players, there is always something refreshing about sports. As sports evolve, so do the athletes who participate in them. Rising stars from all around the globe fight for a chance of fame and glory. Through grueling hours of polishing their talent, they are allowed to compete at such a high level. However, talent itself is a non-discriminatory characteristic that can be given to anyone. Talent sees no difference in someone’s ethnic background or gender identity. If they are given a natural gift to polish and work towards that goal, then they earn the chance to compete in these sports. The film Ratatouille by Pixar presents an idea similar to talent coming from any place in the world. Rather than focusing talent as a category, the film homes in on cooking, stating that “anyone can cook”.
The film follows Remy, a rat with an extraordinary sense of smell that allows him to identify and combine ingredients with remarkable precision. Guided by the philosophy of the late, world-renowned chef Gusteau through his cookbook, Remy pursues his passion for cooking despite the obstacles of his identity. As the story unfolds, we learn that Gusteau died after a harsh review from the notoriously critical food critic Anton Ego, highlighting the weight of criticism and artistic pressure. Ultimately, Remy rises to become the true creative force in Gusteau’s restaurant and prepares a dish for Ego himself. The film concludes with Ego’s reflection: “Not everyone can become a great artist, but a great artist can come from anywhere,” reinforcing the movie’s central message about talent, perseverance, and breaking expectations (Ratatouille 1:43:00 to 1:44:00).
In the present day, the sports world currently faces conflict with this message. We see this conflict with transgender athletes presenting themselves in women’s sports. Specifically, the increase in transgender athletes in high school sports.
As stated before, talent is a non-discriminatory trait given to all regardless of their background. This also applies to the rise of transgender talent in women’s sports. The state of Minnesota is currently under fire by the Trump administration due to the participation of male athletes in High School girls’ sports. The Trump administration wishes to hold an investigation against Minnesota for not following Title XI. Due to this direct violation, the Trump Administration threatens to cut all financial funding to schools in Minnesota. Although the Minnesota board of education has stated to have broken no policies, the Trump administration insists that its update to Title XI should prohibit the participation of transgender athletes (Quilantan). In return, this creates a divide between Minnesota, which allows participation for all who identify as the accepted gender, and the Trump administration, which wants to enforce birth-given gender terms. Through this divide, we can see the beliefs that are being projected. The state of Minnesota chooses a more progressive approach, similar to the message given to us by ratatouille. Instead of prohibiting these new groups of athletes from participating, the state of Minnesota welcomes any new talent that wishes to engage in sports. Giving them the opportunity to express themselves, the state of Minnesota is open to the fact that talent can come from anywhere.
On the other hand, we see the exact opposite coming from the Trump Administration. Taking a more traditional route, they choose to close their doors to anything apparently different from society’s standards. Despite transgender athletes doing everything they can to be accepted according to these society standards, the Trump administration openly tries to restrict these athletes through any means possible.
The shift between being traditional and more open-minded has always been a spark for debate. On one side, as stubborn as can be chosen to try to enforce ideals from decades in the past. While the other side has begun to open their minds to new possibilities and not limit themselves to what society imposes on them. Although the film Ratatouille is a fictional story about a rat cooking. There is an important message that can be taught through this movie. With the right ingredients, even the most stubborn can have a change of heart.
Works Cited
Bird, Brad, director. Ratatouille. Pixar Animation Studios, June 29, 2007.
Quilantan, Bianca. “Education Department refers Minnesota trans athletes probe to Justice Department.” Politico, 26 January 2026, https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/26/mcmahon-refers-minnesota-trans-athletes-probe-to-doj-00747071. Accessed 30 January 2026.