United States Olympian Who Wanted to be a Flag-Bearer Has Stunningly Embarrassing Meltdown

Millions of Americans skipped out on watching the 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony this past Friday. One of those Americans was none other than United States speedster Shani Davis. Davis had publicly cried racism after losing out on the possibility of being flag-bearer for Team USA. He opted not to show up for the event at all.

The honor was voted on by a panel of eight athletes. Four of those athletes voted for Davis and the other four voted for veteran luger Erin Hamlin. This is to be her last Olympics.

Since they were deadlocked, they flipped a coin to decide who would be the flag-bearer. Hamlin won the coin toss. Davis then tweeted that the coin toss was conducted “dishonorably.” I’m not exactly sure how a coin toss is dishonorable. He even hinted that there was racism involved in the decision-making.

Davis, who is black, used a hashtag which mentioned Black History Month. It seemed to be a passive-aggressive way for him to claim that racism had something to do with Hamlin (who is white) winning.

His tweet read, “I am an American and when I won the 1000m in 2010 I became the first American to 2-peat in that event. Team USA dishonorably tossed a coin to decide its 2018 flag bearer. No problem. I can wait until 2022.”

Davis’s stance on the matter had Americans in an outrage. U.S. luger Summer Britcher was not pleased with his conduct.

Some people, like Reverend Jesse Jackson, is defending Davis, who is crying racism. (What a surprise.)

The choice to represent our country as #flagbearer in the @Olympics should never be determined by the flip of a coin. The Committee should immediately institute a more appropriate system to make such a significant determination. @ShaniDavis pic.twitter.com/OmR7C9o1GM

— Rev Jesse Jackson Sr (@RevJJackson) February 9, 2018

Davis changed his Twitter account to a protected status. This means that be blocked and potential followers and ultimately stopped anyone from seeing his tweets. The Associated Press reported that a spokesman for the United States Speedskating explained this past Saturday that Davis had always planned on skipping the opening ceremony. This was due to his training schedule according to the spokesman. 

Apparently Davis reconsidered showing up when he was considered as flag-bearer.

The 35-year-old gold medal winner has had his fair share of issues in the past. He has also opted to train separately from the rest of Team USA.

Going to Korea in the first place was not easy for Davis who said that he was “so charged up and nervous” when boarding the flight. It was explained that he was confused about his seating arrangement and got into an argument with another passenger.

There is no I in team. There is, however, an I in whiny, childish, immature, and disrespectful. https://t.co/kKIS0zOmZc

— Richard (@nowiknowmyabcs) February 9, 2018

“I felt he was being rude by the way he blurted to me I was wrong, and I responded to him something like, “Don’t be mean about it!!” Davis stated. “People make mistakes, so of course he was laughing and I told him not to smile at me!! I couldn’t believe this situation I was in lol, but maybe this is that fire my skating has been missing?! If so the skate world better watch out!!”

Back in 2006, Davis became the first black athlete to win an individual goal in the Winter Olympics. He then withdrew from the team pursuit event and got in a verbal fight with his teammate, Chad Hedrick.

Drama just seems to follow certain people.