“The FIG [International Gymnastics Federation] has now gone a step further and written to Hamm suggesting he could return his medal at its request, according to a letter released by the U.S. Olympic committee Friday,” reports Reuters.
Personally, I think Hamm should’ve given up the medal when the controversy first surfaced. If he gives it up now, then he’ll seem reluctant and only performing a noble action because he’s been told to.
However, I can’t completely berate Hamm because, first, I don’t know what it’s like to train my entire life for a goal -- then to have that goal narrowly salvaged by some Olympic technicalities, and then to be the center of world controversy. Paul has been working all his life to be the best. I can’t imagine how conflicted he feels. Only he knows.
Second, the FIG letter is inappropriate. They couldn’t get together an official mandate to retract the medal -- so instead they write a letter to Hamm urging him to give up the medal.
If they want to take the medal back officially, fine. But if they can’t, then they shouldn’t diffuse their guilt and indecision on to him. He probably already feels it without a letter that borders between formal and informal.
US officials had a right to be angry, though they could have phrased their response in a way that didn’t seem quite so gold-hungry. "During these conversations, the USOC [US Olympic Committee] expressed its unwavering support for Mr. Hamm and indicated it will aggressively resist any attempt by any party to lay claim to his gold medal," they wrote in a statement.
There’s so much emotion and miscalculation in the way different organizations, countries and individuals have been acting towards each other over the controversy. But it’s understandable because the stakes are so high.
Respond
Back to top