Story at a glance
- Olympian Gwen Berry felt singled out on the podium and looked away from the American flag during the national anthem after her third-place finish in the hammer throw at the Olympic trials on Saturday.
- The anthem had reportedly played once per evening throughout the week at the Olympic trials, but Berry believed the timing was intentionally manipulated while she was in the spotlight.
- “They said they were going to play it before we walked out, then they played it when we were out there,” Berry said.
Olympian Gwen Berry felt singled out on the podium and looked away from the American flag during the national anthem after her third-place finish in the hammer throw at the Olympic trials on Saturday.
“I feel like it was a set-up, and they did it on purpose,” Berry said of the timing, according to The Associated Press (AP). “I was pissed, to be honest.”
The anthem had reportedly played once per evening throughout the week at the Olympic trials, but Berry believed the timing was intentionally manipulated while she was in the spotlight. On previous evenings, the anthem was played at approximately 5:20.
“The national anthem was scheduled to play at 5:20 p.m. today,” USA Track and Field spokeswoman Susan Hazzard said, per the AP. “We didn’t wait until the athletes were on the podium for the hammer throw awards. The national anthem is played every day according to a previously published schedule.”
The “Star Spangled Banner” rang out at 5:25 on Saturday.
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“They said they were going to play it before we walked out, then they played it when we were out there,” Berry said. “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, who raised her fist in protest after taking first at the Pan-Am games, said her “purpose and mission” in competition is “bigger than sports.”
“I’m here to represent those … who died due to systemic racism,” Berry said, according to The AP. “That’s the important part. That’s why I’m going. That’s why I’m here today.”
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The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said in April that it will uphold a rule barring athletes from performing gestures, including taking a knee or raising a fist, on the podium at ceremonies or inside the stadium. Athletes who defy the rule could face punishment.
The delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics are scheduled to kick off July 23.
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