Abhiroop Das
Netflix’s ‘Olympo‘ delves into the lives of Spain’s top athletes who train at HPC Pyrenees, revealing a complex web of relationships and ambitions. The story begins with a time jump from a life-changing incident in Zoe’s life to her standing at the campus of HPC, seeing players training hard around her. Already popular as a record-breaker, Zoe is introduced to the players, including Amaia, the captain of artistic swimming. Gradually, Zoe’s life adopts a fast pace as she becomes one of the few chosen for Olympos’s sponsorship. But her nonchalant attitude seems to flicker before the possibility of forming bonds that force her to encounter her past. Throughout her budding relationships, her sexual orientation seems ambiguous; however, as the walls she built around herself begin to break down, a light begins to shine on her true self. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Zoe’s Time at HPC Pyrenees Hints at Her Bisexuality
Over the course of the narrative, many things point to Zoe being bisexual. The main clue is the party scene in Episode 2, where Sebas, in an effort to appear straight in front of his friends, hits on Zoe, who reciprocates. The two head out of the cabin to get intimate, but she soon realizes that he is not attracted to her and urges him not to force himself to do what his peers expect of him. Shortly after this, she expresses sexual frustration, indicating that she was likely attracted to Sebas. This, coupled with her relationship with Jennifer, strongly suggests that Zoe’s sexual orientation is not limited to one gender. Consistently feeling suffocated in the sports environment, she finds relief in her sexual flirtations and moments of desire.
At the beginning of the season, Zoe’s interactions with Jennifer, a cyclist training at HPC, imply a history that is confirmed when the two meet again during practice. The two are revealed to be childhood acquaintances, with Jennifer being an athletic sensation since age 16. As they head to her room, their conversation gradually takes a sensuous turn, and the two become physically intimate. Following this, Zoe shares her anxieties regarding the training center, exclaiming that she cannot match the level of intensity and competitiveness everyone displays. Jennifer explains that she is no stranger to that feeling and points to the solution that keeps her afloat. This solution is eventually revealed to be performance enhancement drugs, one that ultimately gets Jennifer expelled following an ADA raid.
Renata Marks a Turning Point in Zoe’s Romantic Life
Following Jennifer’s exit, Zoe’s next prominent relationship comes from her dynamic with Renata, her partner in the Heptathlon. Initially, Renata maintains her distance, only engaging with the protagonist to address her smoking addiction. Their connection strengthens on the night of another party in the cabin when it is revealed that Renata is intersex and that the excess amount of testosterone renders her ineligible to play. She explains that her hormone treatment takes a toll on the body, affecting her ability to perform on the track. As Renata shares her vulnerability with Zoe, a connection seems to form between them, one wherein Zoe finally takes a step forward from her past trauma and towards healing.
The story begins with the death of Zoe’s best friend, Yaiza, who passes away in an accident shortly after the two of them are invited to HPC. While there is no implication in the narrative, it is possible that Zoe was in love with her. Yaiza’s death leaves a gaping hole in the protagonist’s heart, which makes her bitter and dispassionate. While her dynamics with Jennifer and, initially, Sebas are largely sexual in nature, her relationship with Renata is far richer. When Renata realizes that her partner won the race on her own merit rather than depending on any substance, the two hug, laying the path to a much deeper connection. Renata understands that behind the nonchalant exterior, Zoe is truly dedicated to her sport. The two display an immense amount of camaraderie and trust, with the potential to develop into something much more profound.
Read More: Olympo: Are Roque and Sebas Gay? Do They End Up Together?
