Nationwide — Clara Adams, the 16-year-old African American observe athlete from Salinas, California, who just lately gained the 400-meter dash at a state championship, had her gold medal taken away after officers dominated that her post-race celebration was “unsportsmanlike” although it occurred after the race and damage nobody.
Clara, a sophomore at North Salinas Excessive Faculty, celebrated her win by spraying a small hearth extinguisher on her footwear. The transfer was a tribute to Olympic sprinter Maurice Greene, who as soon as did the identical after an enormous win.
Officers mentioned it was inappropriate and broke sportsmanship guidelines, and stripped Clara of her medal.
Greene, whose celebration impressed Clara, publicly supported her. “If it have been away from everybody and never interfering with anybody, I’d say reinstate her,” Greene advised KSBW.
Clara’s father mentioned 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 happy with her efficiency, mentioned dropping the medal wasn’t the one factor that damage. “Even when the whole lot 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 mentioned.
In the meantime, a evaluate of 20 years of state championships discovered no different circumstances the place an athlete was disqualified for unsportsmanlike conduct.
