(Dublin) The Irish Gymnastics Federation apologized on Monday for the alleged racist behavior of one of its officials towards a young black gymnast who was sidelined during a medal ceremony in 2022.
“We would like to unreservedly apologize to the gymnast and her family for the pain caused by this incident,” Gymnastic Ireland wrote in a statement 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 child lined up alongside other little gymnasts to whom she presents medals.
“What happened that day should not have happened and for that we are deeply sorry,” the body continues in the press release.
The video was seen numerous times on social networks, provoking strong reactions like that of American gymnastics star Simone Biles, who said she had 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 little video,” wrote the four-time Olympic champion on X (ex-Twitter).
