Italian gymnast, Carlotta Ferlito is currently under fire for making a racial comment in response to Simone Biles (a Black girl on the USA team) winning the all-around world champion. As the first Black gymnast to master this fete, Simone reminds us of another flipping brown girl fave–Gabby Douglas. Douglas was the first Black gymnast to win the Olympic all-around title. So maybe that’s where Carlotta’s statement stemmed from, “I told Vane that next time we’ll have our skin black also so we can win, too.”
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Black girls totally rock, so who could blame her for wanting to be one? But our skin is not the only reason we’re natural born winners. Carlotta’s statement is exposing what many athletes who see Black people at the top of their field must be feeling. When other tennis players look at Serena Williams, I’m sure they think the same thing. When Tiger Woods be stuntin’ on them other golfers, I’m sure they all feel they should paint their skin black too. Nevermind the hours, months and years filled with practice to make perfection. Nevermind the blood, sweat and tears that brought them various victories. It’s clearly their darker skin that gives them athletic advantage, according to Carlotta.
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Carlotta has since apologized via social media, saying, ““I want to apologize with the Americans girls. I didn’t want to sound rude or racist. I love Simone and I’m a huge fan of USA gymnastics. I’ve made a mistake, I’m not perfect…I didn’t think about what I was saying. I’m just a human. I’m so so sorry.”
The president of USA Gymnastics, Steve Penny wasn’t satisfied with Carlotta’s apology. He released a statement:
“USA Gymnastics is disappointed by the recent comments made by Carlotta Ferlito and apparently by the Italian Gymnastics Federation. Gymnastics is a global and inclusive sport with talented athletes, and there is no place for racial insensitivity. We are contacting the Italian federation for clarification on its comments.”
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Sore Loser: Italian Gymnast Says If She Painted Her Skin Black, She Would Have Won Too was originally published on hellobeautiful.com