Gymnast Carlotta Ferlito apologizes for racist comment
ROME (AP) - Vanessa Ferrari and teammate Ferlito finished fourth and fifth, respectively, on the balance beam Sunday at the world championships in Antwerp, Belgium — just behind bronze medalist Simone Biles, who is African-American...
ROME (AP) — Italian gymnast Carlotta Ferlito has apologized for making a racist comment aimed at an American rival.
Vanessa Ferrari and teammate Ferlito finished fourth and fifth, respectively, on the balance beam Sunday at the world championships in Antwerp, Belgium — just behind bronze medalist Simone Biles, who is African-American.
“I told Vane that next time we’ll have our skin black also so we can win, too,” Ferlito said afterward with a big laugh.
On Tuesday, Ferlito tweeted, “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.”
She then added, “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.”
At last year’s London Games, Gabby Douglas became the first African-American to win the Olympic all-around title. Simone became the first African-American to win the world all-around title, having also won gold on floor in Antwerp.
Ferrari also was second to Biles on floor, after which Ferrari dedicated her silver medal to the nearly 300 African migrants killed in a shipwreck off the Italian island of Lampedusa last week.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
You Might Like
