Gabby Douglas Meant No Disrespect

“Um, Gabby Douglas”, wrote Twitter user Chelsey Lamar.

Douglas caught viewers’ attention because she was the only member of the all-star “Final Five” team who did not place her hand over her heart while the anthem played. In Douglas’s case, she stood out because her four team-mates did so. Saying she “Always stand [s] at attention out of respect for our country whenever the national anthem is played”, she went on to insist she meant no disrespect.

Not all US Olympians place their hands on their hearts during the anthem. “This is classless and disrespectful and still would be if she was white”.

Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas didn’t put her hand on her heart during the USA national anthem, and now, she’s getting so much stick for it. “I never meant any disrespect and apologize if I offended anyone”.

Correction: An earlier version of this post stated the US code did not require putting your hand over your heart during the national anthem, that code was revised in 2008 to add the requirement. But when she didn’t put her hand on her heart, the American gymnast apparently prompted a dust-up on social media. Back in 2012, when she won both of her individual all-around and team titles, instead of congratulating her, Twitter trolls were hating on her hair. This time around, she spent most of her time cheering on her teammates, as well as going out for a turn on the uneven bars.

But as Douglas took her third Olympic podium, she didn’t something her teammates did. “It is just phenomenal”.