Gymnastics Ireland Accused of Deliberate Oversight in Discrimination Incident
In a controversial incident from March 2022, Gymnastics Ireland (GI) is being sharply criticized for their blatant lack of action. A disturbing video from the event clearly shows a judge disregarding the only black girl during a medal ceremony, with numerous onlookers, including officials, failing to intervene.
Shunning a swift resolution, GI officials avoided mediation. In doing so, they downplayed the discriminatory incident as a mere disagreement between the family and a single judge. Shockingly, the governing body remained silent, avoiding public commitments to investigate the incident or enhance protective policies against racism. Even a direct apology seemed out of reach for 18 months.
The young gymnast’s mother expressed her disbelief to the Guardian, “It’s a systemic problem, because when you [GI] don’t speak out, the message is that you are happy for it to go on.”
Simone Biles, an iconic figure in the sport, reached out to the family in solidarity and publicly condemned the incident. “There is no room for racism in any sport,” she voiced on X (previously Twitter). Olympic silver medalist, Jordan Chiles, also showed disdain: “This is beyond hurtful on so many levels.”
While international indignation grew, GI’s response was questionable at best. A statement suggested they had expressed concern and issued an apology from the judge — a misrepresentation, as it was not an official apology from GI itself. This misdirection was captured by the mother’s comment: “I don’t understand why media kept saying they offered an apology.”
In a delayed response, GI issued a letter of apology over a year post the incident. The mother was unimpressed, “They are not addressing the issues of racism and safety. I would love to hear them say things like ‘the next black child who comes into gymnastics will be safe’. There is nothing like that.”
The plot thickens. During mediation, it was revealed that a sincere apology letter from the judge, penned shortly after the event, never reached the family. Instead, a vague two-line apology was sent almost a year later. The family’s disappointment is palpable, “They need to explain why that [original apology] was withheld,” urged the mother.
Safety concerns now loom over the family due to the unwarranted publicity, emphasizing that GI seems more keen on safeguarding their image than the well-being of their athletes. “They are simply trying to vindicate themselves,” the mother lamented.
Ken McCue, an anti-racism campaigner, underscored the broader negligence from Ireland’s sporting and political authorities. Only international entities, including Simone Biles and the Switzerland-based Gymnastics Ethics Federation, pushed for mediation. However, the mother felt that GI’s non-participation during the mediation further displayed their unwillingness to address the issue.
The narrative remains unsettling, with systemic issues within the sport left unaddressed. With so many unanswered questions and the lack of genuine concern from Gymnastics Ireland, the sport’s reputation and trustworthiness are at stake.
