A major American sports website has issued a grovelling apology and hastily removed a social media post that derided British athletics fans as "gout-ridden" during a major championship final, sparking a firestorm of criticism.
The offensive comment was posted on the official X account of the outlet during the highly anticipated women's 200m final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. The now-deleted post took aim at supporters of British sprint sensation Dina Asher-Smith, employing what many have condemned as an outdated and deeply unpleasant national stereotype.
The remark triggered an immediate and fierce backlash from fans and commentators alike. Critics slammed the publication for its lazy and offensive characterisation, labelling it as blatant xenophobia that had no place in professional sports journalism.
Facing a tidal wave of anger, the website's editors moved quickly to contain the fallout. The post was unceremoniously scrubbed from the platform, followed by a formal apology issued from the same account.
The apology stated the post was "unacceptable" and did not align with the company's values, acknowledging the justifiable offence it had caused. This swift retraction, however, has done little to quell the discussion about the pervasive use of national stereotypes in media coverage of international sporting events.
This incident highlights the intense scrutiny and national pride that surrounds major athletics competitions, where the actions of media outlets are dissected as closely as the performances of the athletes themselves. The defence of British fans, particularly those supporting a standout Olympian like Asher-Smith, was both swift and unified.
