# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2021, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bronze-medal-athlete-fidgets-and-fusses-during-national-anthem/945174/41 "2021-06-28T17:53:06Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > a controversial athlete If she was already controversial in Olympic trials circles (I never heard of her before, but that doesn’t prove anything), this is indeed possible, although still very speculative. It may partially justify her feelings of being set up and singled out. But since her actions deserve neither censure nor response of any other kind, it’s kind of moot to me. ---
**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, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bronze-medal-athlete-fidgets-and-fusses-during-national-anthem/945174/42 "2021-06-28T17:59:26Z")
I hope she makes it to the top tier of the podium no matter if she hisses or boos through the anthem. USA all the way ---
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2021, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bronze-medal-athlete-fidgets-and-fusses-during-national-anthem/945174/43 "2021-06-28T18:04:29Z")
> [@chela](#): > > She works hard at her sport to reach the podium where she can indulge in a personal protest in order to represent those who died of systemic racism? How does that benefit the dead? If I thought you actually gave a shit about her stance, I’d happily link to the many stories and interviews that elaborate a bit more than that on why she’s doing this. Of course, if I were going to start an OP about it, I’d probably already have researched it myself. > [@](#): > > Pull the podium away from the athletes if it’s that reprehensible to stand like a statue for 2.5 minutes. No matter if it’s for Pride, BLM, climate change, or whatever one feels it’s important to send a message. Who said it’s reprehensible to stand like a statue? Some people choose not to, but that’s not likely because they find standing still to be reprehensible. Who should pull the podium away? The USOPC has stated they won’t interfere with protests during trials, so it won’t be them. Perhaps we could get some cops to do it. They’ll probably need to pull out their guns and tasers, as this could get just as ugly as a loitering situation. ---
**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, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bronze-medal-athlete-fidgets-and-fusses-during-national-anthem/945174/44 "2021-06-28T18:26:32Z")
[https://www.google.com/amp/s/clutchpoints.com/gwen-barry-claims-she-was-set-up-after-turning-away-from-flag-on-olympic-trials-podium/amp/](https://www.google.com/amp/s/clutchpoints.com/gwen-barry-claims-she-was-set-up-after-turning-away-from-flag-on-olympic-trials-podium/amp/) “I feel like it was set up. I feel like they did that on purpose, and I was pissed, to be honest,” said Berry of the anthem being played while she was on the podium. “I was thinking about what should I do. Eventually, I just stayed there and just swayed. I put my shirt over my head. It was real disrespectful. I know they did that on purpose, but it’ll be alright. I see what’s up.” What’s her point?Whats up? Because it’s certainly not reading as concern for the disenfranchised rather she sounds like a brat. ---
**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, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bronze-medal-athlete-fidgets-and-fusses-during-national-anthem/945174/45 "2021-06-28T18:30:41Z")
What do you mean by “brat” is that just a term that means “any behavior I don’t like?” Her point also is explained clearly in several articles already posted here, I suggest you need to read for comprehension if you have trouble understanding them. ---
**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, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bronze-medal-athlete-fidgets-and-fusses-during-national-anthem/945174/46 "2021-06-28T18:33:44Z")
The fact that she said she’s only there representing those who died from systemic racism is that her point? She’s coming up short really if it means getting f pissed off over the anthem being played. ---
**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, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bronze-medal-athlete-fidgets-and-fusses-during-national-anthem/945174/47 "2021-06-28T18:44:57Z")
> [@chela](#): > > What’s her point?Whats up? The Teen Vogue piece linked above has a lot of background, she was known for, and criticized for, her feelings regarding activism, racism, and the Nat’l Anthem, prior to this event. So, at this event, she was told the anthem would be played once, prior to the athletes being awarded medals, but instead, it was played while she was on the podium. It’s perfectly natural for her to think the schedule change was deliberate in order to make her look bad, given that some people get REALLY bent out of shape by this stuff. She may be incorrect about the reason for the delay, but it makes sense for her to think this way about it. ---
**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, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bronze-medal-athlete-fidgets-and-fusses-during-national-anthem/945174/48 "2021-06-28T18:56:37Z")
> [@chela](#): > > She’s coming up short really if it means getting f pissed off over the anthem being played. She got your attention and now we’re all talking about it. So, I wouldn’t call her gesture entirely useless. ---
**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, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bronze-medal-athlete-fidgets-and-fusses-during-national-anthem/945174/49 "2021-06-28T19:15:11Z")
Who is she supposed to be representing in her capacity as a private citizen doing something in her own time? You aren’t representing the country during trials, you’re there as a private citizen representing yourself. Also worth noting that the anthem was being played for the stadium, not at the podium, but obviously it could still be heard at the podium. ---
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2021, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bronze-medal-athlete-fidgets-and-fusses-during-national-anthem/945174/50 "2021-06-28T20:51:44Z")
> [@chela](#): > > What’s her point? While you’ve shown no real reason for me to believe you want an actual answer, she has a lot of things to say. Many of them can be found in the below article from two years ago. This is a woman who has lost a shit ton of sponsorships because of her stance and yet continues, because she believes that the cause is that important. > **[With fist raised, Olympic track and field star Gwen Berry determined to make...](https://www.espn.com/espnw/life-style/story/_/id/27699003/with-fist-raised-olympic-track-field-star-gwen-berry-determined-make-difference)** > > The Ferguson native and daughter of a veteran attended a Freedom School and toured a converted slave plantation. Now Berry is ready to use her newfound power. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2021, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bronze-medal-athlete-fidgets-and-fusses-during-national-anthem/945174/51 "2021-06-28T20:54:18Z")
To make her happy we should just play the new US National anthem “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing” and drape her in the new Macy Gray American flag. Then what does she have to complain about? ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2021, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bronze-medal-athlete-fidgets-and-fusses-during-national-anthem/945174/52 "2021-06-28T20:57:06Z")
They blind sided her with the anthem, she knew it wasn’t going to air during the medal ceremony, but they ran it intentionally. She’s known for her political statements. She felt she had no option. Your characterization is ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2021, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bronze-medal-athlete-fidgets-and-fusses-during-national-anthem/945174/53 "2021-06-28T20:57:32Z")
yawn. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2021, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bronze-medal-athlete-fidgets-and-fusses-during-national-anthem/945174/54 "2021-06-28T20:58:55Z")
BTW, why is this in IMHO and not in a more political forum? ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2021, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bronze-medal-athlete-fidgets-and-fusses-during-national-anthem/945174/55 "2021-06-28T21:00:03Z")
why is it not? ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2021, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bronze-medal-athlete-fidgets-and-fusses-during-national-anthem/945174/56 "2021-06-28T21:41:02Z")
The reason (I think) it’s in IMHO is the way the OP was phrased - > [@chela](#): > > Gwen Berry throws hammer, gets medal, feels disrespected when national anthem plays during podium ceremony. > > Is she a brat that shouldn’t go to the Olympics or should her disrespect be respected? Although the the phrasing of the second line, refering to Gwen Berry as a ‘brat’ kinda taints the argument or at least shows what the **chela** ’s opinion was (as if it weren’t made clear later). Whatever the case, we’ve already had mod action in the thread and they seem to feel it wasn’t sufficient to require P&E, which it isn’t, except maybe on the edges. So back to the OP - while others have said it, I’ll add to the pile of ‘she worked hard to get there, she doesn’t have to care for the flag or the anthem, and her history gives reason to _dislike_ the flag and anthem’. Does it feel to me she was perhaps paranoid that the timing was changed just to get her? Maybe, but she’s had enough examples in her life to perhaps be justified in the paranoia. Personally, I respect and honor her choice, but otherwise do not care. I support the causes I support because of my beliefs about them, not because someone else has specifically championed them - but if she wants to lead from example, or encourage others to do so, that is her right and possibly responsibility. ETA - for that matter, there is plenty of legitimate grief about the full language of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ that gets glossed over, but that would be a hijack. ---
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2021, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bronze-medal-athlete-fidgets-and-fusses-during-national-anthem/945174/57 "2021-06-28T21:48:05Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > Although the the phrasing of the second line, refering to Gwen Berry as a ‘brat’ kinda taints the argument or at least shows what the **chela** ’s opinion was (as if it weren’t made clear later). While I agree that it doesn’t really qualify for P&E, I think the second line makes it look like a rant, which also has a home on these boards. We’re offered two choices, she’s a brat or she’s disrespectful. I can’t infer from their post the distinction being made between those two options, so it seems like a rant to me. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2021, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bronze-medal-athlete-fidgets-and-fusses-during-national-anthem/945174/58 "2021-06-28T22:53:38Z")
**Modhat** : It is not P&E material. It is Game Room material or maybe Pit material. Let’s drop the discussion of where it belongs and I’m going to shove it over to the Game Room. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2021, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bronze-medal-athlete-fidgets-and-fusses-during-national-anthem/945174/59 "2021-06-29T15:30:14Z")
I’d strip her of the medal and leave her home for the Olympics. Or perhaps she should just drop out on her own accord. This way she will have more time to be an ‘activist.’ She can do her ‘Hey Hey, Ho Ho’ and ‘Say their name’ crap without having to worry about athletics. I’ll see ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2021, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bronze-medal-athlete-fidgets-and-fusses-during-national-anthem/945174/60 "2021-06-29T15:37:39Z")
More power to her. I supported Tommie Smith and John Carlos. I support her. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bronze-medal-athlete-fidgets-and-fusses-during-national-anthem/945174.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bronze-medal-athlete-fidgets-and-fusses-during-national-anthem/945174.md?page=4)