Nationwide — Clara Adams, the 16-year-old African American monitor athlete from Salinas, California, who not too long ago 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” regardless that it occurred after the race and damage nobody.
Clara, a sophomore at North Salinas Excessive Faculty, celebrated her win by spraying a small fireplace extinguisher on her footwear. The transfer was a tribute to Olympic sprinter Maurice Greene, who as soon as did the identical after a giant 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 might say reinstate her,” Greene informed 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 pleased with her efficiency, mentioned shedding the medal wasn’t the one factor that damage. “Even when all the pieces goes in my favor… with regard 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 evaluation of 20 years of state championships discovered no different circumstances the place an athlete was disqualified for unsportsmanlike conduct.
