The Irish Gymnastics Federation apologized this Monday for the alleged racist behavior of one of its leaders towards a young black gymnast who was marginalized during a medal ceremony in 2022.
“We would like to apologize unreservedly to the gymnast and her family for the pain caused by this incident,” Gymnastic Ireland wrote in a statement posted on its website.
In a video posted on social media last week and filmed during a competition in Dublin in 2022, a Federation official ignores a black girl lined up with other little gymnasts to whom she is handing out medals.
“What happened that day should not have happened and we are deeply sorry,” the organization continues in the statement.
The video was seen numerous times on social networks, provoking strong reactions such as that of the American gymnastics star Simone Biles, who claimed to have sent a video of support to the young athlete.
“When this video circulated, her parents contacted me, it broke my heart so I sent her a small video,” the four-time Olympic champion wrote on X (ex-Twitter).
