They’ve been playing the national anthem for the past week once a night at U.S. Olympic track & field trials.
The song started on Saturday as Gwen Berry, an outspoken activist, was standing on stage after she received her bronze medal for the hammer throw.
Berry placed her left arm on her hip, and she shuffled her steps while the music played. Berry turned a quarter turn so that she was facing the flag and not the stands. She pulled out her black T-shirt, with “Activist Athlete” written on the front, and draped the top over her head towards the end.
Berry stated that Berry felt it was a setup and they had planned to time the anthem. Berry admitted that he was “pissed” about the timing of the anthem.
Berry’s reaction on the “Star-Spangled Banner”, received its fair share of attention during a second-to-last day of trials that featured some lightning-fast times and blazing-hot temperatures.
Gabby Thomas won the final in 21.61 seconds to become the second fastest woman in 200. Florence Griffith-Joyner was the only woman who ran faster than Gabby Thomas. Grant Holloway won 110-meter hurdles. However, his semifinals time was a surprise. His 12.81 was just 0.01 behind the world record.
Other winners Saturday were Emily Sisson (10000), Katie Nageotte (1200), Maggie Malone (1200), Rai Benjamin (4000 hurdles), Brittney Reynolds (long jump) and Brittney Rese (1200).
Not winning: Allyson Felix finished fifth in 200 but had already secured her place in 400.
Noah Lyles was second in his 200 semifinal. He looked surprised to see Erriyon Knighton, 17 years old, beat him to the line. Knighton was 19.88 seconds ahead of Usain Bolt, who held the under-20 world record.
Berry won her spot earlier, when temperatures reached 101 degrees (38 Celsius) and she was on the field. She also secured her platform at Tokyo Olympics by taking third place, just 2 inches behind Janee Kassanavoid.
Berry has made it clear that she will use her position in order to raise awareness about the social injustices in her country.
Berry stated that “my purpose and my mission are bigger than sports.” “I am here to represent those who have died from systemic racism. That’s what is important. This is why I am here. This is why I am here today.
It was no coincidence that she was there during the anthem. They don’t use anthems at trials, unlike the Olympics. The hammer throwers were awarded just before the beginning of the evening session. This was a change from the Olympic tradition of playing anthems to accompany medal ceremonies.
Susan Hazzard, spokeswoman for USA Track and Field, stated that the national anthem would be played at 5:20 today. We didn’t wait for the athletes to be on the podium for the hammer throwing awards. “The national anthem plays every day according to a previously published calendar.” The music began at 5:25 on Saturday.
DeAnna Price, the winner, and Brooke Andersen, the second-place finisher, sat still on the podium, their hands crossed over their hearts, and looked straight ahead at the American flags. Berry fidgeted, and then he paced on to the third step. She turned and left. Finally, she grabbed her Tshirt.
Berry stated that they had said they would play the anthem before we walked out and then they did so when we were there. “But I don’t want to talk about anthem, because it’s not important. It doesn’t speak for myself. It has never spoken for me.”
Berry’s gestures received almost no reaction from those still consuming the food. They were also something that was much less than what Berry did two summers back, when she raised her fist to the podium after winning Pan-Am Games.
The demonstration resulted in a sanction but eventually prompted the U.S. Olympic Committee and Paralympic Committee not to punish athletes who kneel or raise their fists at trials or in Tokyo. This could be a flashpoint for Tokyo where the IOC has stated that it will enforce Rule 50, which bans demonstrations within the lines. This is the same prohibition that sent Tommie Smith and John Carlos home from the Mexico City Games 1968.
Berry is now heading to her second Olympics. She saw the effort it takes to win a similar moment in Tokyo.
Price won with a throw distance of 263 feet 6 inches (80.31 metres), nearly 7 feet more than Berry’s. Berry was the only woman to break 80 meters in history, and Price shared the stage with Berry.
“I believe people should be free to say what they like. Price stated that she is proud of her.
With world-record holder Anita Wlodarczyk from Poland, who is expected be in Japan, she will likely be going for gold. Berry’s personal best was 2 inches behind Andersen’s throw.
Berry stated that she must get her body, mind and spirit “right” in order to compete at the Olympics. August 1 is the start of the women’s hammer throwing.
She doesn’t believe she has to be there in Tokyo to make an impact.
She said, “I don’t need to do any sport-wise.” “All I have to do is to speak up for my community, to support my community, and to help my neighbors. Because it’s more important that sports.
