After young Black gymnast skipped during medal ceremony, Gymnastic Ireland apologizes

The clip went viral on social media and outraged millions, and Gymnastics Ireland eventually apologized to the Black gymnast for the medal snub.

Gymnastics Ireland has condemned racism and apologized after one of its judges appeared to snub a young Black gymnast at a medal ceremony last year.

Video of the incident resurfaced this weekend and again went viral on social media, racking up millions of views.

In the clip from March 2022, a group of young girls stand single file in their shiny gym suits to receive participation medals inside Dublin’s National Indoor Arena. As a judge from the competition distributes the prizes, she skips the only Black gymnast in line. Several of the girls appear momentarily confused as they pose for photos and wave at their parents, all the while the Black gymnast remains without a medal.

A nearby photographer and other officials did not intervene.

On Monday, Gymnastics Ireland released a statement of apology to the girl and her family. Though the family has remained unnamed publicly, the girl’s mother told several media outlets the behaviour of Gymnastics Ireland — and the untimeliness of its regret — is unacceptable.

Eighteen months after the original incident, and after the family filed a complaint with the Gymnastics Ethics Foundation in Switzerland, Gymnastic Ireland “unreservedly” apologized on Sunday. The apology was shared publicly the following day.

“What happened on the day should not have happened and for that we are deeply sorry,” Gymnastics Ireland wrote. “We are also sorry that what has happened since that date has caused further upset.”