I should be free to take the knee, says Asher-smith
British sprint medal hope demands right to make political gesture on podium in challenge to the IOC
DINA ASHER-SMITH, the great hope of British sprinting, has warned Olympics chiefs against punishing her or any other athlete if they take the knee on the podium in Tokyo.
With the Games opening today, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) also faces mounting pressure from decorated former medalists to abandon a divisive ban on political displays. The
IOC had softened competition rules in recent weeks, which have allowed Team GB women footballers to follow the England football team in making the gesture against racism pre-match.
However, it has maintained its resolve to punish medal winners, with national bodies being told that the podium remains sacrosanct.
Asher-smith, a favourite for a silver medal or better on the track, hit back yesterday by claiming it would be “unenforceable” and organisers would be “shooting themselves in the foot”.
“When it comes to people’s voice there’s very little you can control,” she said. “When people feel strongly about something, particularly when it’s something that’s so close to your heart particularly for me, that topic would be racism, as a black woman you think about racism. I just think you can’t police people’s voice on that.”
The gesture of taking the knee has been divisive in sport for months, with England football fans booing the gesture during Euro 2020.
The IOC established its guidelines around five months before the death of George Floyd in America and the subsequent Black Lives Matter movement. “No kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas,” the rule initially stipulated.
Asher-smith said abiding by the rule was “incredibly difficult”. She drew comparisons with 1968 when American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists on the medal stand at Mexico. “Some of the Olympics’ most iconic moments have been the black power salute by Tommie Smith, that is something people remember the Olympics for, something they’re very proud to see at the Olympic Games,” she added.
“So to think they’re suddenly going to say ‘absolutely not’, I think they’d be shooting themselves in the foot.”
The IOC has not clarified how athletes would be punished other than saying they would face disciplinary action. But Asher-smith, the 25-year-old world 200m champion, added: “I see protesting and expressing yourself as a fundamental human right.” Sir Matthew Pinsent, the four-time gold medalist rower, shared a story about German women’s hockey captain Nike Lorenz wearing a rainbow-coloured band on her socks to support gay rights. “The IOC has been ‘behind the curve’ on this subject for decades,” he added. “There are nuances but bluntly the athletes are taking the lead here in Tokyo.”
Thomas Bach, the IOC’S president, who is already facing criticism for staging the Games despite Covid, warned athletes last week against “political demonstrations”.
Edwin Moses, the double American gold medalist, Leila Ali, the daughter of Muhammad Ali, along with Carlos and Smith, joined 150 campaigners in a letter to Mr Bach: “We are adding our voice to global collective efforts calling for amendments to IOC Rule 50 to centre a commitment to human rights, racial justice, and social inclusion in the Olympic and Paralympic movements.”