Who is Gwen Berry?Hammer thrower slammed for turning away from flag during national anthem

Who is Gwen Berry?Hammer thrower slammed for turning away from flag during national anthem

Olympic hammer thrower Gwen Berry turns away from the U.S. flag during the national anthem during the awards ceremony for the U.S. Olympic Trials on Saturday, June 26, according to reports. The 31-year-old athlete accused tryouts organizers in Eugene, Oregon, of being “disrespectful” by playing the national anthem as she won the bronze medal.

According to reports, during the national anthem, Berry put his left hand on his hip and turned his face to the stands while his back was to the flag. In her defense, she said: “I feel like it was a set-up and they did it on purpose. Honestly, I’m pissed off.” The athlete continued: “They had plenty of opportunities to play the national anthem before we got on stage. I’m in Thinking what I should do. In the end, I just stayed there, rocked, and put my shirt over my head. It was really disrespectful.”

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“It’s really not a message. I don’t really want to be on it. Like I said, it’s a setup. I’m hot and I’m going to take pictures and get into the shade. They said they’ll play it before we go out and then They play it when we’re out. But I really don’t want to talk about the national anthem because that doesn’t really matter. The national anthem doesn’t speak for me. It never does,” Berry added.

Berry fidgeted with his left hand on his hip as the music played. She made a quarter turn, so she was facing the stands, not the flag. Towards the end, she picked up a black T-shirt with “Radical Athlete” emblazoned on the front and draped it over her head.

However, USA Track and Field spokeswoman Susan Hazzard said in a statement, “We don’t wait for athletes to get on the podium to get the hammer award.” The team is very excited. “

Third-place Gwendolyn Berry (left) turns away from the American flag during the U.S. national anthem, while first-place DeAnna Price (C) and second-place Brooke Andersen also stand on the podium after the women’s hammer throw final on Day 9 of 2021 The 2020 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Team Trials at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, on June 26 (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

The controversial incidents come after the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) banned Berry for 12 months for raising a fist at the 2019 Pan American Games. She reportedly did the same again on Thursday the 24th, just before qualifying, as part of her quest for social change. “My purpose and mission are bigger than the movement. I’m here to represent those who… died of systemic racism. That’s the important part. That’s why I’m going. That’s where I’m here today. Here’s why,” Berry said.

However, in June 2020, USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland apologized to her in a statement. She said: “I thank Gwen for her time and honesty last night. I heard her voice. I apologise for how my decisions made her feel and do my best to explain why I made them. Gwen has a powerful voice in this national conversation, and I believe we can use the Olympic and Paralympic platforms together to address and combat systemic inequality and racism in our country.”

Meanwhile, on Twitter, Berry received more criticism than praise. One user tweeted: “Guess who won’t travel to Japan for free!! Don’t disrespect the country you represent!” A second said: “‘I think this is an arrangement’ Yes, the whole Athletics are waiting for you, a hammer thrower, third on the podium, just in time for the national anthem to get you ready. Talk about a narcissist. Omg.” “Don’t watch the Olympics, We as taxpayers paid for this embarrassing stunt. Just don’t go,” a third added.

Guess who doesn’t travel to Japan for free! ! Do not disrespect the country you represent!

— Walter Louis Magruder (@MagruderLouis) June 27, 2021

Instead of watching the Olympics, we as taxpayers are paying for this embarrassing stunt. Just don’t go.

— figman (@fig011463) June 27, 2021

“I think it’s a setting”
Yes, the entire track and field competition is waiting for you, a hammer thrower, finishing third on the podium, just in time for the national anthem to get ready for you.

Talk about a narcissist. Omg.

— Harry Met Sally (@Ludwig54561193) June 27, 2021

However, there were also people on her side. One tweet read: “Literally, no one in America has more power and influence than our cherished Olympian hammer thrower!” Another added: “The beauty of the flag gives her the right to speak out. My own feelings, thank you!”

There is literally no one in America more powerful and influential than our cherished Olympic hammer thrower!

— Thoth Hermes Trismegistus (@RBerbaron) June 27, 2021