(Tuesday, June 29, 2021) – Olympian Gwen Berry says she stands by her statements and position Saturday to turn away from the American flag as the national anthem was played.

Berry, who earned a spot on the U.S. Olympic hammer throwing team in Eugene, Ore. over the weekend, says she felt like she was set-up.  In a statement to the Associated Press, Berry said she was told the Star spangled Banner would play before the medalists walked out to the podium for the award ceremony.   But instead the anthem played as the athletes were in their podium positions.

That’s when Berry turned, placed her hand on her waist, and held up a T-shirt with the wording “Activist Athlete” and put the shirt over her head.  Berry later posted a picture of herself on Twitter with the caption, “Stop playing with me.”

For its part, a spokesperson for the USA Track and Field says the national anthem had been scheduled to play Saturday at 5:20pm.  However, the music actually started at 5:25pm. The spokesperson maintains “we didn’t wait until the athletes were on the podium, adding the anthem is played every day according to a previously published schedule.”