Italian gymnast Carlotta Ferlito has apologized on Twitter for her racially-charged remark at the recent world championship, but USA Gymnastics representatives still want an explanation from officials for Ferlito's comment on new world all-around champion Simone Biles.
After her teammates Vanessa Ferrari and Ferlito finished fourth and fifth on balance beam, just behind Biles, Ferlito said with a laugh, "I told Vane that next time we'll have our skin black also so we can win, too," the Associated Press reported last week.
Biles won the all-around title last week, the first black gymnast to become world champion, according to the AP. At last year's London Games, Gabby Douglas became the first black woman to win the Olympic all-around title.
In a Facebook comment posted under the name "Italian Gymnastics Federation," which links to the federation's Facebook page, federation spokesperson David Ciaralli defended Ferlito, the Chicago Tribune reported.
"Carlotta was referring to a trend in gymnastics at this moment, which is going towards a technique that opens up new chances to athletes of color (well-known for power)," Ciaralli wrote, while penalizing the more artistic Eastern European style that allowed Russians and Romanians to dominate the sport for years.
"Why aren't there blacks in swimming?" Ciaralli wrote. "Because the sport doesn't suit their physical characteristics. Is gymnastics becoming the same thing, to the point of wanting to be colored?"
In another video interview from the competition, Ferlito dissed Biles' performance on the balance beam and credited the win to her nationality.
"Biles did the most awful performance I have ever seen her do and made the podium because the USA always complains and therefore I and Vanessa are less than a 10th of a point from the podium, fourth and fifth. The judges always protect the Americans," she said.
Both Ferlito and Ciaralli have since apologized for their remarks.
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.
— Carlotta Ferlito (@CarlottaFerlito) October 8, 2013
I've made a mistake, I'm not perfect, I was too nervous and I didn't think about what I was saying. I'm just a human. I'm so so sorry. — Carlotta Ferlito (@CarlottaFerlito) October 8, 2013
"Possibly in saying this, I made a mistake, and I am sorry," Ciaralli told the Chicago Tribune. "What I said was my thoughts, not the official thoughts of the federation."
USA Gymnastics president Steve Penny still called for an explanation.
"USA Gymnastics is disappointed by the recent comments made by Carlotta Ferlito and apparently by the Italian Gymnastics Federation," Penny said in a statement. "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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