# Bronze medal Athlete fidgets and fusses during national anthem **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** olympic-sports-track\ **Created:** [June 28, 2021, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bronze-medal-athlete-fidgets-and-fusses-during-national-anthem/945174 "2021-06-28T12:04:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2021, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bronze-medal-athlete-fidgets-and-fusses-during-national-anthem/945174/21 "2021-06-28T16:28:22Z")
She fidgeted and covers her head hardly a grand gesture of solidarity ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2021, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bronze-medal-athlete-fidgets-and-fusses-during-national-anthem/945174/22 "2021-06-28T16:29:38Z")
Moonwalking would be great! Crotch grabbing, spitting, maga emblems? ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2021, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bronze-medal-athlete-fidgets-and-fusses-during-national-anthem/945174/23 "2021-06-28T16:31:12Z")
As far as I’m concerned, she is entitled to her feelings and their expression thereof. However, I’d like to ask her why she is representing a country that she hates so much. If it is just for the personal recognition, I have to say it isn’t worth it. Few Olympians gain lasting fame. A hammer thrower? No one will remember her in a year. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2021, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bronze-medal-athlete-fidgets-and-fusses-during-national-anthem/945174/24 "2021-06-28T16:31:16Z")
> [@chela](#): > > She fidgeted and covers her head hardly a grand gesture of solidarity ::shrugs:: So go earn a medal and a place on the podium, and gesture as _you_ see fit. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2021, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bronze-medal-athlete-fidgets-and-fusses-during-national-anthem/945174/25 "2021-06-28T16:32:55Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > However, I’d like to ask her why she is representing a country that she hates so much. Where is she saying she hates America? She said “The anthem doesn’t speak for me. It never has.” ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2021, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bronze-medal-athlete-fidgets-and-fusses-during-national-anthem/945174/26 "2021-06-28T16:39:35Z")
I think the anthem is weird however displaying some dignity during the moment won’t set back your protest career. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2021, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bronze-medal-athlete-fidgets-and-fusses-during-national-anthem/945174/27 "2021-06-28T16:45:19Z")
So basically, “Protest all you want, just not when people will actually be paying attention to you.” ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2021, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bronze-medal-athlete-fidgets-and-fusses-during-national-anthem/945174/28 "2021-06-28T16:46:23Z")
We are literally complaining about a black person “fidgeting” now. This is where we’re at. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2021, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bronze-medal-athlete-fidgets-and-fusses-during-national-anthem/945174/29 "2021-06-28T16:49:46Z")
Ooh flexing your RO muscle now while intentionally making up shit? ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2021, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bronze-medal-athlete-fidgets-and-fusses-during-national-anthem/945174/30 "2021-06-28T16:51:08Z")
OP description seems biased and incorrect, from what I’m seeing the athlete deliberately turned her back and put on a t-shirt that said “Activist Athlete” on it. I don’t really see any “fidgeting” and “fussing” being reported. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2021, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bronze-medal-athlete-fidgets-and-fusses-during-national-anthem/945174/31 "2021-06-28T16:54:03Z")
This appears to be an accurate summary of the OP. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2021, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bronze-medal-athlete-fidgets-and-fusses-during-national-anthem/945174/32 "2021-06-28T17:03:42Z")
Ok right. the fussing came after the anthem because it pissed her off. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2021, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bronze-medal-athlete-fidgets-and-fusses-during-national-anthem/945174/33 "2021-06-28T17:04:47Z")
> [@chela](#): > > Ooh flexing your RO muscle now while intentionally making up shit? If that was directed at me, I refer you to the title of this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2021, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bronze-medal-athlete-fidgets-and-fusses-during-national-anthem/945174/34 "2021-06-28T17:05:13Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > First of all, the anthem is being played once a day, at 5:20 pm. I think it’s amusing that the US T&F defense is that the anthem is played every day on a published schedule, when on this day it deviated from the schedule. It was played while athletes were on the podium, instead of beforehand as they were told it would be, in accordance with the published schedule. In a situation like this, when the action is almost certainly controlled by ‘a dude pressing a button’ the action happening at a particular time, like when a controversial athlete is standing on the podium, does not require CT level contortions to be intentional. It could also be an ‘oh crap’ moment where they realize they’re late and waited until an appropriate time to play the anthem, such as when athletes were awarded and standing on the podium. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2021, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bronze-medal-athlete-fidgets-and-fusses-during-national-anthem/945174/35 "2021-06-28T17:08:37Z")
From the article in the OP: _Those in attendance at this event hardly seemed to notice what was happening and didn’t react at all._ That, to me, seems like the appropriate response. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2021, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bronze-medal-athlete-fidgets-and-fusses-during-national-anthem/945174/36 "2021-06-28T17:12:28Z")
> [@chela](#): > > Ooh flexing your RO muscle now while intentionally making up shit? Don’t insult other posters. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2021, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bronze-medal-athlete-fidgets-and-fusses-during-national-anthem/945174/37 "2021-06-28T17:13:27Z")
Moderating: This is a personal attack and also violates the rules about calling a poster a liar. Please dial it back and remember you’re in IMHO. No warning issued. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2021, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bronze-medal-athlete-fidgets-and-fusses-during-national-anthem/945174/38 "2021-06-28T17:14:00Z")
If she gets on the podium at the Olympics maybe no one will take notice of her there as well. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2021, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bronze-medal-athlete-fidgets-and-fusses-during-national-anthem/945174/39 "2021-06-28T17:16:47Z")
This is going well. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2021, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bronze-medal-athlete-fidgets-and-fusses-during-national-anthem/945174/40 "2021-06-28T17:46:14Z")
> [@chela](#): > > If she gets on the podium at the Olympics maybe no one will take notice of her there as well. If we fail to notice, perhaps you can bring it to our attention? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bronze-medal-athlete-fidgets-and-fusses-during-national-anthem/945174.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bronze-medal-athlete-fidgets-and-fusses-during-national-anthem/945174.md?page=3)