Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said there is no room for racism in sport, after controversy around a young black gymnast not receiving a medal at a presentation ceremony.
The video, which was taken from a Gymstart event in Dublin in March 2022, shows a line of children being awarded medals, but the one black girl pictured did not receive one.
The footage re-emerged and went viral last week, and has been watched by millions on social media, including four-time Olympic champion Simone Biles, who said the incident “broke her heart”.
Earlier this week, governing body Gymnastics Ireland issued an unreserved apology and said it “condemns any form of racism whatsoever”.
Mr Varadkar weighed in on the incident, calling the clip “very sad”, when asked about it in Co Kildare on Friday.
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“I saw that video, I only saw it myself in the last week or two and it was very sad,” he said.
“And I was very sorry to see it and I know Minister (Thomas) Byrne, the minister for sport, has reached out to the family and has tried to contact them.
“You know, there’s no place for any form of racism or discrimination or sexism in sport.
“And I think it is a real shame that it took Gymnastics Ireland so long to deal with it, but I’m glad that they finally have.”
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The young gymnast’s mother – who does not wish for her daughter to be named publicly – complained to Gymnastics Ireland immediately after the incident and criticised the governing body for taking 18 months to say sorry publicly.
Simone Biles sent a video message to the gymnast after footage circulated on social media. Pic: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY
Her mother said her daughter’s confidence has been affected by what happened.
“To be honest, we keep supporting her. It did knock her confidence. She is the only black child competing in the competition, and that happens. It is horrendous,” she told RTE.
After the video circulated on social media, the gymnast was sent a video message by Biles, after her parents had reached out to her.
Gymnastics Ireland said it had appointed an independent expert to review its policies and procedures earlier this year and it was “fully committed” to implementing a series of subsequent recommendations “so that this does not ever happen again”.
