‘I Always Stand at Attention': Gabby Douglas Responds to US Anthem Controversy
The American gymnast is not the first who didn't put their on their heart during the medal ceremony anthem
By Asher Klein ••
Wearing her second gymnastics team gold medal, Gabby Douglas stood at attention for the national anthem Tuesday night. But when she didn't put her hand on her heart, the American gymnast prompted a dust-up on social media.
The 20-year-old member of the "Final Five," as the world-beating gymnastics team named themselves, used both hands to hold a figurine of the Rio 2016 logo given out with medals. Some people on Twitter were offended by that, calling it disrespectful.
Gabby Douglas just standing there and not placing her hand over her heart while our anthem played was UN-olympic. #respect#rio2016
But Douglas, the reigning individual gold medal champion, issued a graceful response Wednesday, pivoting away from the controversy like she was performing a floor routine.
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Alexandra Raisman of the United States competes on the balance beam during the Artistic Gymnastics Women's Team Final on Day 4 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Rio Olympic Arena on Aug. 9, 2016, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Bronze medalist Simone Biles (L) and silver medalist Lauren Hernandez (R) of the United States pose for photographs after the at the medal ceremony for the Balance Beam on day 10 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Rio Olympic Arena on Aug. 15, 2016, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Lauren Hernandez of the United States reacts after competing in the Balance Beam Final on day 10 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Rio Olympic Arena on Aug. 15, 2016, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Simone Biles of the United States competes in the Balance Beam Final on day 10 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at Rio Olympic Arena on Aug. 15, 2016, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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US gymnast Lauren Hernandez competes in the women's balance beam event final of the Artistic Gymnastics at the Olympic Arena during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on Aug. 15, 2016.
Simone Biles of the United States competes on the uneven bars during the Women's Individual All Around Final on Day 6 of the 2016 Rio Olympics at Rio Olympic Arena on Aug. 11, 2016, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Simone Biles of the United States waves to fans after winning the gold medal during the Women's Individual All Around Final on Day 6 of the 2016 Rio Olympics at Rio Olympic Arena on Aug. 11, 2016, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
US gymnast Simone Biles competes in the beam event of the women's individual all-around final of the Artistic Gymnastics at the Olympic Arena during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on Aug. 11, 2016.
Simone Biles (C) of the United States is embraced by Alexandra Raisman after competing on the floor during the Women's Individual All Around Final on Day 6 of the 2016 Rio Olympics at Rio Olympic Arena on Aug. 11, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Alexandra Raisman of the United States reacts after competing on the floor during the Women's Individual All Around Final on Day 6 of the 2016 Rio Olympics at Rio Olympic Arena on Aug. 11, 2016, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
US gymnast Alexandra Raisman competes in the floor event of the women's individual all-around final of the Artistic Gymnastics at the Olympic Arena during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on Aug. 11, 2016.
Aly Raisman of the United States performs on the beam during the women's individual all-around at Rio 2016 on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016. Raisman finished with the silver behind teammate Simone Biles (gold) and ahead of Russia's Aliya Mustafina (bronze).
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Simone Biles of the United States waves to fans with her gold medal after the medal ceremony for the Artistic Gymnastics Women's Team on Day 4 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Rio Olympic Arena on Aug. 9, 2016, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Alexandra Raisman, left, and Gabrielle Douglas, right, of the United States celebrate winning the gold medal during the Artistic Gymnastics Women's Team Final on Day 4 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Rio Olympic Arena on August 9, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Lauren Hernandez of the United States competes on the balance beam during the Artistic Gymnastics Women's Team Final on Day 4 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Rio Olympic Arena on Aug. 9, 2016, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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(Left to right) Bronze medalists China, gold medalist United States and silver medalists Russia pose for photographs on the podium at the medal ceremony for the Artistic Gymnastics Women's Team on Day 4 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Rio Olympic Arena on August 9, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
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The Russian and US teams celebrate with their medals on the podium during the women's team final Artistic Gymnastics at the Olympic Arena during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro on Aug. 9, 2016.
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Madison Kocian, left, and Gabrielle Douglas, right, of the United States apply chalk in preparation for competing on the uneven bars during the Artistic Gymnastics Women's Team Final on Day 4 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Rio Olympic Arena on Aug. 9, 2016, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Simone Biles (front) of the United States is congratulated by her teammates after competing on the floor during the Artistic Gymnastics Women's Team Final on Day 4 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Rio Olympic Arena on Aug. 9, 2016, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Simone Biles of the United States competes on the vault during the Artistic Gymnastics Women's Team Final on Day 4 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Rio Olympic Arena on Aug. 9, 2016, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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(Left to right) Lauren Hernandez, Madison Kocian, Simone Biles, Alexandra Raisman and Gabrielle Douglas of the United States celebrate winning the gold medal during the Artistic Gymnastics Women's Team Final on Day 4 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Rio Olympic Arena on Aug. 9, 2016, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
"In response to a few tweets I saw tonight, I always stand at attention out of respect for our country whenever the national anthem is played," Douglas wrote. "I never meant any disrespect and apologize if I offended anyone."
As The Washington Post pointed out, Navy veteran and basketball great David Robinson was seen without his hand on his heart on the podium at the 1992 Games, when he won the gold with the Dream Team.
And many more on Twitter were shocked that there was any controversy about the anthem at all.
