When the video of a Black gymnast being ignored at a medal ceremony went viral over the weekend, some on Twitter correctly stated it was old.
The video shows a young Black gymnast being ignored at a medal ceremony in Ireland.
A Twitter user shared the video on Sept. 22 with the caption:
“Welcome to Ireland where people get away with racism! This little black girl broke my heart. Don’t skip this post without leaving a million heart for her. Make her famous…”
Welcome to Ireland where people get away with racism! This little black girl broke my heart. Don’t skip this post without leaving a million heart for her. Make her famous… pic.twitter.com/YYMIP1IALZ
— Mohamad Safa (@mhdksafa) September 22, 2023
The video was first uploaded in March 2022. It sparked outrage at the time.
However, the gymnast’s mother told reporters she didn’t want any coverage of the snub, and the story faded from headlines.
One reader added context to the post:
“This is from March 2022. Gymnastics Ireland investigated a complaint of alleged racist behavior and ‘a written apology provided by the identified individual has since been issued to the competition and her family.'”
The video has gone viral again because Twitter/X users have short memories.
The mother of the little girl has since said she never received a public apology last year — only a written one.
Olympian Simone Biles responded to her followers by reminding them that she reached out to the young gymnast when the video first circulated on Twitter last year.
“When this video was circulating, her parents reached out. It broke my heart to see, so I sent her a little video. There is no room for racism in any sport or at all !!!!” Simone wrote.
? when this video was circulating, her parents reached out. It broke my heart to see, so I sent her a little video ?
there is no room for racism in any sport or at all !!!!
— Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) September 23, 2023
