Simone Biles speaks out after black girl skipped for gymnastics medal | World News
A racism row has broken out after footage resurfaced showing the moment a young black girl was missed out during a medal ceremony.
The competitor looks on as all the white girls around her received an award at the end of a GymStart event in Dublin.
She can be seen smiling eagerly, waiting to be presented with the medal at the National Indoor Arena, but the official skips over her and goes straight to the next white girl.
The girl’s mum told the Irish Independent the family were ‘very upset’ at how their daughter had been treated by Gymnastics Ireland, and that they believe the snub was due to racism.
She said: ‘We are often the only black family at gymnastics events and this has been very hurtful for us.
‘Now eight million people have seen the video. From Pakistan to Ethiopia they can see this was wrong but Gymnastics Ireland still can’t accept it and say sorry.’
In a video sent to the family, she said: ‘I was completely shocked and wanted to let you know that you deserve a medal just like all of the other girls.
‘I know you’ve worked incredibly hard at the sport and I wanted to say I am rooting for you from here. Sending you my very best and know that there are so many of us here to support you.’
Gymnastics Ireland said it had ‘engaged immediately’ with the parents of the competitor after their complaint.
A statement said: ‘The official concerned said that upon realising the mistake they immediately rectified it and ensured that the competitor concerned was presented with her medal before she left the field of play.
‘The official also expressed deep regret for what they described as an honest error and requested the opportunity to apologise in person to the competitor and her family. This request was initially declined.
‘A written apology provided by the identified individual has since been issued to the competitor and her family.’
They added the official is no longer a member of the sporting body after she chose not to renew her membership.
Gymnastics Ireland said the matter was settled in August, but the mum has denied this and claimed the ‘one-line’ written apology wasn’t genuine.
The sporting body added the wellbeing of its gymnasts ‘is at the heart of everything we do’ and said it is a ‘very inclusive sport’.
It added it was contacted by the Gymnastics Ethics Foundation, based in Switzerland, last summer after it was informed of the complaint.
Gymnastics Ireland said: ‘We remained engaged with the Gymnastics Ethics Foundation through the autumn and winter months during which time our internal process was suspended.
‘In February, we agreed to resume internally and proceed to the next stage of our process.’
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