The lowest moment of the Rio Olympics
PLENTY of athletes have been brought to tears on the medal dais at these Olympics but none for reasons like this.
In what’s being viewed as Rio’s lowest moment, French pole vaulter Renaud Lavillenie was left in tears and had to be consoled by other athletes after he was loudly booed by the crowd at the Olympic Stadium while receiving his silver medal.
It wasn’t the first time Lavillenie had been targeted by the largely-Brazilian audience. The 29-year-old defending champion accused the crowd of bad sportsmanship after they booed him as he duelled with hometown hero Thiago da Silva for the gold medal a night earlier.
Da Silva captured his country’s second gold medal of the Games when he cleared 6.03m in a dramatic showdown to claim the title and send the crowd inside the Olympic stadium into a frenzy.
The 22-year-old made the clearance with his second jump which forced Lavillenie to have a crack at 6.08m to reclaim his title.
This was when the crowd became involved, booing loudly as the Frenchman was on the runway. He gave them a thumbs down signal at the start of his run-up in an attempt to make his displeasure at the situation known, before failing to clear the bar.
Lavillenie likened the reception to what Jesse Owens had to deal with back in 1936 at the Berlin Olympic Games where the black American was subject to vicious racial taunting.
“In 1936 the crowd was against Jesse Owens. We’ve not see this since. We have to deal with it,” Lavillenie said. “For the Olympics it is not a good image. I did nothing to the Brazilians.”
Yes, sorry for the bad comparaison I made. It was a hot reaction and I realize it was wrong. Sorry to everyone. https://t.co/rK5mmuMgqH
— Renaud LAVILLENIE ® (@airlavillenie) August 16, 2016
He later issued an apology for the Owens comparison but entered a hostile arena the following night for the medal ceremony.
Da Silva raised his arms to protest the cacophony of noise while a visibly upset Lavillenie broke down. He was later embraced by his Brazilian opponent and pole vault legend Sergey Bubka backstage.
No words. pic.twitter.com/ccSL7JQn2c
— Renaud LAVILLENIE ® (@airlavillenie) August 17, 2016
The reaction of the crowd was slammed by several Olympic greats. “This crowd should be ashamed, this is not what competition is about. He was really hurt last night,” said Michael Johnson on the BBC.
Sydney heptathlon gold medallist Denise Lewis added: “They don’t know any better, do they?”.
IOC president Thomas Bach also condemned the incident as “shocking” and “unacceptable at the Olympics”.
IOC President Thomas Bach: 'shocking behaviour for the crowd to boo Renaud Lavillenie on the medal podium. Unacceptable at the Olympics'
— IOC MEDIA (@iocmedia) August 17, 2016
There was similar outrage on social media.
Booing a man after the competition is over and for just doing his best is not what sport is. #RenaudLavillenie pic.twitter.com/LufviJejdD
— Ilir Latifi (@Latifimma) August 17, 2016
Booing an amazing athlete whilst receiving his silver medal.....not ok. What a shame, made me so angry. @airlavillenie WELLDONE!
— Naomi Scott (@NaomiScott) August 17, 2016
So disappointing from the Brazillian fans, why would you boo one of the most entertaining athletes of our generation? @airlavillenie
— Tom Reynolds (@tomreynoldsani) August 17, 2016
If you're taken drugs or show bad sportsmanship and get booed, deal with it. But never boo an athlete with the pedigree of @airlavillenie
— Marlon Devonish (@MarlonDevonish) August 17, 2016
Since yesterday, @airlavillenie is my idol.I would not have accepted that behaviour. A true gentleman. An out of this world athlete.Respect.
— Oier Fano Dadebat (@oierfano) August 17, 2016
— with Scott Gullan
Originally published as ‘Shocking’: Rio’s lowest moment