Who is Gwen Berry? Hammer thrower slammed for turning away from flag while anthem plays
By Divya Kishore
meaww
June 27, 2021
Olympic hammer thrower Gwen Berry has reportedly turned away from the American flag while the national anthem
was played during a medal ceremony at the US Olympic trials on
Saturday, June 26. The 31-year-old athlete accused the organizers of the
trials in Eugene, Oregon, of being “disrespectful” to play the national
anthem while she was honored with a bronze medal.
As per reports, when the national anthem was played, Berry put her
left hand on her hip and turned her face towards the stands while
showing her back to the flag.
In her defense, she said, “I feel like it was a set-up, and they did it
on purpose. I was pissed, to be honest.” The athlete continued: “They
had enough opportunities to play the national anthem
before we got up there. I was thinking about what I should do.
Eventually, I stayed there and I swayed, I put my shirt over my head. It
was real disrespectful.”
“It really wasn't a message. I didn't really want to be up there. Like I
said, it was a setup. I was hot, I was ready to take my pictures and
get into some shade. They said they were going to play it before we
walked out, then they played it when we were out there. But I don't
really want to talk about the anthem because that's not important. The anthem doesn't speak for me. It never has,” Berry added.
While the music played, Berry placed her left hand on her hip and
fidgeted. She took a quarter turn, so she was facing the stands, not the
flag. Toward the end, she picked up her black t-shirt with the words
'Activist Athlete' emblazoned on the front, and draped it over her head.
However, USA Track and Field dismissed the allegations as spokeswoman
Susan Hazzard said in a statement, “we didn't wait until the athletes
were on the podium for the hammer throw awards. We're thrilled with the
women's hammer throw team that selected themselves for the Games.”
These controversial events were seen after the US Olympic and
Paralympic Committee (USOPC) suspended Berry for 12 months for raising
her fist at the 2019 Pan American Games. She reportedly did the same
again on Thursday, Friday 24, just before the qualifying round as part
of her pursuit for social change. “My purpose and my mission is bigger
than sports. I'm here to represent those... who died due to systemic
racism. That's the important part. That's why I'm going. That's why I'm
here today,” Berry said.
And since in March this year, the USOPC announced that it has no
objection if any athlete — competing in the US Olympic trials — protest,
kneel or raise a fist on the podium or at the beginning line during the
national anthem, Berry demanded an apology from the committee. Earlier,
she met USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland, who in a statement said, “I am
grateful to Gwen for her time and her honesty last night.” Hirshland
added: “I heard her. I apologized for how my decisions made her feel and
also did my best to explain why I made them. Gwen has a powerful voice
in this national conversation, and I am sure that together we can use
the platform of Olympic and Paralympic sport to address and fight
against systematic inequality and racism in our country.”
Meanwhile, on Twitter, Berry received more flak than praise. One user
tweeted, “Guess who won't be getting a free trip to Japan!! Yoy don't
disrespect the country you represent!” The second one said, “‘I feel
like it was a setup’ Yes, the whole track meet was waiting for you, a
hammer thrower, to be third place on the podium, just in time to play
the anthem, to set you up. Talk about a narcissist. Jeez.” “Not watching
the Olympics, we as tax payers paid for this embarrassing stunt. Just
don't go,” the third added.
However, there were some who sided with her. A tweet read, “Literally
no one has more power and influence in the US than our cherished
Olympian Hammer Throwers!” Another one added: “The beauty of The Flag
gives her the right to speak how she feels, give thanks!”
2 comments:
Honor and politics don't run together and probably haven't for a fair bit of time.
We don't care if you kneel for the National Anthem in Texas. We care that the National Anthem shall be played at every sporting event because after September 1, 2021 it is State Law. Just remember the Flag will wave and the National Anthem will be played. Take that, Mark Cuban!
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