AMAC Exclusive
In recent years, our nation’s most treasured sporting events have become consumed by players, leagues, and corporations abusing their platforms to advocate left-wing political causes—but when it comes to athletics, just as in foreign relations, politics has historically stopped at the waters’ edge. As the world gears up for this summer’s Olympic Games in Tokyo, however, there are signs that the left’s insufferable wokeness is already destroying yet another once-great institution—the unifying patriotism and extraordinary excellence of Team USA.
Hammer thrower Gwen Berry turned her back to the flag as the National Anthem played while she was on the medal podium during Olympic trials on Saturday. Berry had previously been suspended for a year by the U.S. Olympic Committee for raising her fist during the National Anthem at the 2019 Pan American Games. But now, woke athletes like Berry have bullied the Committee into allowing anti-American protests during trials, and even demanded apologies for having been punished for breaking the previously existing rules. Berry has allegedly received such an apology from the CEO of the U.S. Olympic Committee, and is apparently going forward emboldened.
“The anthem doesn’t speak for me. It never has,” the athlete said.
After the National Anthem played during the medal ceremony on Saturday, Berry declared “It was a set-up” and “real disrespectful.”
“I was pissed, to be honest,” she said. Left unanswered is what Berry will do if she wins an Olympic medal and the anthem is played in recognition of her achievements at the Tokyo games.
Far from an anomaly, Berry’s actions are just the latest in a series of red flags that suggest America is barreling toward international mortification as our “woke” athletes attempt to out-virtue signal each other at the Summer Olympics. Her fellow American Athlete, fencer Race Imboden, was also suspended after he protested the National Anthem in 2019 by taking a knee.
Perhaps the most shocking prospect is that raised by transgender BMX Freestyle bicyclist, Chelsea Wolfe. Recently, social media posts of Wolfe’s surfaced in which she stated that she wishes to win an Olympic medal so she can have the opportunity to burn the American flag in front of the entire world, and also implied that someone should assassinate Donald Trump.
In a now deleted Facebook post, Wolfe shared an article from PinkNews, a UK-Based LGBTQ interest news site, discussing the Trump Administration’s stance on transgender athletes. She added a caption stating, “My goal is to win the Olympics so I can burn a US flag on the podium. This is what they focus on during the pandemic. Hurting trans children.” In the comments section, Wolfe also implied that President Trump should be assassinated. She stated that she “would never say that someone should explode the head of the President. That would be illegal….but I will say ‘with dynamite.’” This, she explained was “just a sentence fragment” that is “not necessarily related to the sentence that came before.”
The unusual phrasing of her posting was attributed to a comedic video in which an individual explains the legal ways one may incite violence against, or threaten to murder, the President of the United States. The social media posts were discovered by journalist Ian Miles Cheong, and Wolfe quickly deleted them after the first stories appeared.
All of this raises the question of whether the U.S. Olympic Committee, in lifting its ban on such extremism, is inviting a boycott by normal Americans. The NFL, MLB, and NBA have all seen catastrophic declines in viewership since “going woke.” Americans may be even less likely to tune in to see athletes they don’t know, playing sports they don’t watch, impugn their nation in front of the entire world.
While Wolfe’s ambition to burn the flag would certainly be unprecedented in American-Olympic history, the sentiments these leftist Olympians expressed have become commonplace in domestic athletics in recent years. Kneeling has become so frequent at national sporting events that many stadiums are either keeping their players in the locker room or not playing the anthem at all.
The Olympics, however, are an entirely different playing field. All Olympians are expected to represent their sovereign country, and the International Olympic Committee has made it clear that any form of protest is strictly prohibited. Presumably in an attempt to head off major international incidents rather than out of any concern for the reputation of the United States, the IOC has made clear that any “demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda” by any Olympian will be severely punished. This includes all “Black Lives Matter” apparel. Athletes who persist may face disqualification, which would likely cause the United States to lose medals.
Predictably if ridiculously, several athletes are now protesting the ban on protesting.
Most notably, World Cup soccer star turned political activist Megan Rapinoe stated, “So much being done about the protests. So little being done about what we are protesting about. We will not be silenced.”
Wolfe, the transgender athlete, has yet to clarify whether or not, if given the opportunity, she still intends to burn the flag. Burning a flag on the medal stand would certainly result in an individual’s immediate removal from competition. Currently, she is still an alternate for Team USA at the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. She released a statement to Fox News saying, “Anyone who thinks that I don’t care about the United States is sorely mistaken…One of the reasons why I work so hard to represent the United States in international competition is to show the world that this country has morals and values, that it’s not all of the bad things that we’re known for.”
“I take a stand against fascism because I care about this country,” she continued, “and I’m not going to let it fall into the hands of fascists after so many people have fought and sacrificed to prevent fascism from taking hold abroad. As a citizen who wants to be proud of my home country, I’m sure as hell not going to let it take hold here.”
The text of this “clarification” certainly suggests that Wolfe means to imply she is not currently proud of her country, merely that she one day hopes to be.
As of publication, Chelsea Wolfe has not apologized for or retracted her statement about assassinating the former president.
Those Olympic participants who choose to publicly disrespect the flag or anthem should realize that in other countries they could be punished or possibly executed for their actions.
Why participate if that’s your only goal is to burn the American flag on the podium? This country gives you all the rights you want ! OK , we get it , you hate this country . PLEASE MOVE ! Represent China, or maybe Canada . People are sick of seeing athletes bringing politics into sports. Do you know how many Americans will turn the channel if anything like this happens? Do what you must. Whatever . ????????
I haven’t watched the Olympics for years, but I especially will NOT be watching this year. Those fools do not represent me or the USA.
Wont watch Games sorry
Suspend them all, until they are too old to compete, and definitely don’t apologize! They are unfit to stand for the USA They are unfixable, completely broken beyond repair because of their indoctrination in the libtard palaces of higher education! We used to call them colleges and universities, but now they are just festering, brainwashing centers for the left!
I will NOT watch 1 sec. of this BS.
The clueless coaches and Olympic committee “officials” should be making it clear that if you don’t want to represent the country you don’t compete. Period. Protest all you want when not in a representative position.
I have no intention of watching the woke (fascist) olympics or supporting the Olympic committee or their advertisers.
Between Athletes that hate America – representing America, and Men participating as Women – I will certainly not be watching this years Olympics at all. Just like other Sports – NFL, NBA, MLB – boycott them all!!
Berry should be removed from the USA team. The Olympics are all about athletes proudly representing their country….. if she feels “the anthem does not “represent me”, then she should NOT represent the country whose anthem it is… she says she was ‘pissed’… that the playing of the anthem was “disrespectful” … WRONG… the disrespect was on HER…
If the anthem doesn’t ‘speak to her and never has’, then what is she doing in an even that represents us? If that is the case she is simply a user.. a parasite.. taking advantage of something to get something she wants without the responsibility associated with it.
If they don’t love the U.S., they shouldn’t be enjoying the benefits of being U.S. citizens.
The writer obviously hasn’t read about Japan’s barring of ANY political or gender, etc. displays except their homage to their individual, national flags. They are NOT allowing any abuses or statements to make this anything other than one of sports. I have to applaud them in doing so.
It would be low comedy but for the fact that many in Amac have fought under the flag that a self absorbed narcissist would turn her back on.
So she was p*ssed off because the anthem interrupted her “moment of glory “?
In no way does this strong backed, weak minded person represent me. Quite the opposite.
What’s truly disgusting is if she wins, the endorsement offers will flow like a case of dia**hea.
I won’t watch this travesty.
Deport these ‘traitor activists’ to Guantanamo… and strip them of their citizenship. They do not deserve to have the benefits of being American. Do we see athletes from other countries dishonoring their flags or countries? You bet that wouldn’t happen… they would be jailed or executed. America is much too tolerant. It is a privilege to live here!
Americans should not support or watch the Olympics with scum like this representing us. I no longer donate too or support the Olympics. ????????
My retort to your headliner is “Olympics, what Olympics ?”
Let other countries host the Olympics AND pick up all the expenses. #2 Do not let this
athelete back into this country. Why let her back in? She hates us, so we should force her
out of USA. End of discussion. Why are we jerking around with this?
why would they use an athlete that disrespects our wonderful country to represent our country? that boggles my mind. No olympics for me!!!
and that goes for any sport where our country is not honored.
The Olympics is the place to show athletic ability & love for one’s country. If the competitors cannot do that, they should be replaced. Rather than disgrace the USA.
IMO anyone who does not love AND respect the USA does NOT deserve to be ‘representing’ it in the Olympics. This so called ‘woke culture’ is not awake at all!
If I was making the decisions, she would NOT be representing the U.S. in the Olympics regardless of how good an athlete she is. “Showing one’s arse” for racial, political, or personal issues should NOT be tolerated.
IF Berry does not respect the USA, then, why should she be allowed to wear ‘USA’ on her clothing. She is a disgrace to this nation. Turning your back to the National Anthem of the country you are supposed to be representing is a total disgrace to your character. Further, she should be replaced.
Athletes like this Berry should go live in China if our anthem does not speak to her. . she does not speak for me
She is a traitor and has no business saying she represents our country. Obviously she doesn’t. She should be removed. Disgusting, pathetic display of disrespect.
Protest the US Olympic team and the Olympics by not watching. Don’t give money to the team and boycotted the businesses that support them.
She should be banned from competition permanently. I am sick of every organization bending over backwards to appease every minority group and race. As for BLM, have any of their group ever considered how their lives would be if their ancestors had not been brought to the United States? There is not another country in the world that offers as many opportunities and special treatment for blacks. The olympics have now joined the ranks of professional sports which I will now boycott.
The end to all sports.
I have not watched sports for over 5 years. Sophomoric children playing there egotistical charms.
I thought it was against the law to threaten a president. Why has she not been arrested?
U think the US should suspended players that treat the American Flag like that they are Ambassadors for the U S and should act as such.
ANYONE exhibiting such blatant disrespect for the very country that provides them the FREEDOM and opportunity to showcase their talents AS a representative of said country, should be permanently barred from eligibility to represent said country.
I have personally communicated to the USOC that I will in no way support their effort, as long as such egregious disrespect continues its condoned display. Apparently, the USOC is guided by ultra-liberal garbage!!!
Well, I would say this to all the athletes who feel the need to protest and speak out against our country and our flag – “Just stay home – don’t compete”! If it’s just too much for you to represent your country – the country that enabled you to grow, develop, and hone your skills, in a civilized respectful manner, then we don’t want to see you compete and we also don’t care how you feel about anything!
I don’t care about your personal problems with Olympic competition and the country that you are supposed to be representing. YOUR ARE TRYING TO JOIN COLIN KAEPERNICK IN A MONEY GRAB. PURPLE LIPS AND 3 INCH EYE LASHES AIN’T GONNA CUT IT. MONEY MONEY MONEY. I WANT WHAT COLIN K. ACHIEVED! MEGA BUCKS!!!!!! SORRY. YOU ARE TREATING YOURSELF AS A VICTIM. BEAT THE GOOD ATHLETES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Seems okay to get support from the US, get an opportunity to use their gifts in the name of the US, they just hate the country!! Ban anyone who disrespects the country, the President (and I am NOT a fan of Jokin Joe) or our flag!!!
DISGRACEFUL!!!
Wolfe’s statement ending in “…and not all of the bad things we (the USA) are known for” is a direct reflection of the brainwashing in school and at home for this little chick. Please explain that to the hundreds of thousands of illegals risking their lives to get into this “terrible” “fascist ” country. Gotta cry BS on that statement
Should not be allowed to compete for USA…
Well, there you go again…..as per R. Reagan. Yet another venue I will not be attending or watching.
If enough people reject the venue across the board, the likes of the Olympic committee will see just how twisted they have become…..because of the politics. (not that politics has never been in the mix).
Maybe a seperate, independent “olympic competition” could be promoted by the atheletes themselves that was simply competition between accomplished individuals regardless of their national affliations.
No running the torch. No flags and pomp. No sponsors who turn the whole affair into a profit center.
I’d go. I’d pay to support that….to cover the costs. Like every other “noble” attempt at showing excellence and promoting that excellence through competition, the whole thing has been raped, pillaged and plundered. The olympic games as we now know them can take that proverbial flying leap at the rolling dough nut.
All of this controversy is very much alarming to me. For Wolfe and Berry, go live in Iran or elsewhere. Wolfe should be placed in a prison for 50 years, no early freedom, for her big mouth saying to assassinate President Trump. He is the best Conservative President we have had in years. And burning the American Flag, means severe punishment for any American who does so or even suggests it. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ WILL NOT HELP this country until everyone comes to their senses and stop the abortions, the gay people, the racist problem, etc. and ask Jesus to come into their hearts in salvation of themselves. I am so glad I am not raising a family any longer and my 3 children are all living lives to be so proud of. They too abhor what is going on in America, the best country in the world. Prayers are being said at this very moment for all. God Bless
I e been embarrassed about America from 2008-2016, and since November 2020. America is being destroyed by the China owned liberal regime. The generation brainwashed by Obama will destroy the USA. And not give a damn.
There isn’t enough gold in Ft. Knox to make me view one second of the olympics. I don’t care to watch traitors play their silly games.
Barry is a stupid, ugly cow with no class or manners.
Ban her.
I will spend my dime watching the Para-Olympics. Those are true athletes, competing for the joy of the games.Not a moment will I waste on spoiled, pampered, spoon-fed Primadonna hell bent on using their 15 seconds to moan about their self-righteous causes all while raking in the cash to become the exact same as those they condemn as evil.
Very few even watch the Olympics anymore. With the sexual harassment of young boys/girls by coaches that have now been exposed for many years, political gamesmanship affecting location selection, biological males competing in female matches, and now this, it has been reduced to just another unfair, crooked event and a platform for social issues instead of athletic excellence. Even worse, each network covering the games now spends more time on talking head features than on the actual events. Just when you start watching an event, they interrupt with some biography or statistics, etc. A real bore……
“All of this raises the question of whether the U.S. Olympic Committee, in lifting its ban on such extremism, is inviting a boycott by normal Americans. The NFL, MLB, and NBA have all seen catastrophic declines in viewership since “going woke.” Americans may be even less likely to tune in to see athletes they don’t know, playing sports they don’t watch, impugn their nation in front of the entire world.”
I have always loved the Olympics because it’s OUR TEAM against the WORLD’s teams. We always stand united. This is wrong and our team should only consist of athletes who want to represent America and win FOR AMERICA. The others can go compete for another country and stay there!
What a traitor! She should be disqualified from competition and sent home. This is disgusting. It’s bad enough we have to put up with this at all the sports games now this. There’s a time and place for everything and this is not the time or the place to embarrass America in front of the world. We have enough problems with a president that has dementia.
I will now turn the channel when the Olympics comes on.
QUESTION: Are the Olympics supported by donations totally or do USA tax dollars pay for any of this? Either way, kick them off team if they will not respect & represent this country.
More liberal idiots who don’t have jobs. They’re entirely supported by others so they can concentrate on their training. What kind of politics would you expect them to have? I don’t know if the money comes from donations or tge Gov’t, but funds should be cut off for idiots like these!
In large part because of the nasty and ungrateful athletes who demean our nation, a nation they are supposed to represent, I lost all interest in the Olympics and ignore them. It all started with the black power insults back in the 1960s. In fact, I’m old-fashioned enough to still believe the Olympics should be all about amateur competition even though some nations chose to violate that for political reasons. No athlete who refuses to represent our nation with decor and honor should be allowed to compete under our flag. Force them to represent another country they prefer or not compete at all.
First of all Wolfe is not female, so quit referring to it as one. I am female and that offends me. Second, you couldn’t pay me to watch these freaks put down my country. And third, if they would like to represent another fascist country, then oblige them and while you are at it give them their deportation papers
Call it what you want. For some reason the people that have the most, hate America the most. There are people that would jump off bridges to qualify for the Olympics. This hate is being taught in universities also in K-12 grade. I think that most Americans love this country. The few that don’t are getting the most attention. The old saying the squeaky wheel get the grease. In my opinion China should be made to explain why they lied about the (virus covid 19) before they hold any kind of Nationwide, a worldwide sporting event like the Olympics, is held in their country. The Biden administration will never stop China or hold them responsible for any part of this disaster. All I can say is if you hate America Please find another country to represent we don’t need you! God Bless America.
I don’t have to brace myself for anything! I stopped watching the olympics years ago, when they allowed professional athletes to compete. They stripped poor Jim Thorpe of his medals because he played a little semi-pro football (none of his medals had anything to do with football). Yeah…they returned them posthumously…BIG DEAL. The i.o.c. is a “woke” joke. Keep your stinkin’ olympics!!!