Gwen Berry's crushing loss at hammer throw finals has Internet calling her 'national disgrace'

Gwen Berry had hinted at the possibility of a protest at the podium if she won gold at the Olympic women's hammer throw finals
PUBLISHED AUG 3, 2021
Gwen Berry of Team United States competes in the Women's Hammer Throw Qualification on day nine of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 1, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Gwen Berry of Team United States competes in the Women's Hammer Throw Qualification on day nine of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 1, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Tokyo Olympic women's hammer thrower finalist Gwen Berry drew social media ire after putting up a disappointing performance in the finals. Competing alongside 11 others, Berry finished last with a distance of 67.66m with Poland's Anita Włodarczy emerging the gold medal winner having covered a distance of 76.01m. The Internet is shocked and also stunned at Berry's crushing loss after she had promised her fans she would protest at the podium if she won in the Olympic finals. 

Just a month ago, Berry had made headlines after she turned away from the US flag as the national anthem played at the time of her medal ceremony during the US Olympic trials. Berry, no stranger to demonstrations, deems the US national anthem racist and insisted the committee had played the Star Spangled Banner on purpose when she took the podium after winning bronze in the women's hammer throw event.

Berry had also made headlines for putting up her fist in the air at the 2019 Pan American Games as the national anthem played. Berry had won gold there, but her Olympic journey -- although much-watched and closely followed by many -- was slammed by Laura Trump recently when the former POTUS' daughter-in-law claimed there are many who would not like to see Berry on the podium at the finals.

Trump's remarks had followed Berry's hints at protesting to "represent the oppressed" should she win. But now that she has not, social media has exploded into a frenzy, slamming her with the name narrative of anti-American that athletes like Simone Biles, Raven Saunders and even Megan Rapinoe have been slammed with. "Gwen Berry can stick her hammer where the sun doesn't shine," said a user. Another wrote: "Go win Election, #Olympics is not for your Social Justice Drama #GwenBerry" One even went so far as to claim: "Berry is an embarrassment. America hates her. National disgrace & fool."



 



 



 

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