Nationwide — Clara Adams, the 16-year-old African American monitor athlete from Salinas, California, who just lately received the 400-meter dash at a state championship, had her gold medal taken away after officers dominated that her post-race celebration was “unsportsmanlike” though it occurred after the race and harm nobody.
Clara, a sophomore at North Salinas Excessive College, celebrated her win by spraying a small fireplace extinguisher on her sneakers. The transfer was a tribute to Olympic sprinter Maurice Greene, who as soon as did the identical after an enormous win.
Officers stated it was inappropriate and broke sportsmanship guidelines, and stripped Clara of her medal.
Greene, whose celebration impressed Clara, publicly supported her. “If it had been away from everybody and never interfering with anybody, I’d say reinstate her,” Greene informed KSBW.
Clara’s father stated the celebration occurred after the race, when all different runners had already left. He believes officers overreacted and took the highlight away from the athletes.
Clara, nonetheless pleased with her efficiency, stated dropping the medal wasn’t the one factor that harm. “Even when every little thing goes in my favor… with reference to love getting my title again, I’ll nonetheless by no means get that second again, like standing on the rostrum as a sophomore. I’ll by no means get that again ‘trigger they took it from me,” she stated.
In the meantime, a evaluation of 20 years of state championships discovered no different circumstances the place an athlete was disqualified for unsportsmanlike conduct.
