Aimee Walker
The Olympic commentators have come under fire after ‘misgendering’ the first openly non-binary competitor.
Alana Smith, from Arizona, was referred to as ‘she/her’ by multiple networks and commentators at the games, despite having their chosen pronouns emblazoned on their skateboard.
People are now taking to Twitter and are dubbing the incident as ‘journalistic malpractice’.
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BBC reporter Tom Warwood wrote: “Marc Churchill also needs to be informed if it was him commentating. Alana Smith was constantly misgendered last night. An apology would be great.”
Another tweeted: “This is journalistic malpractice. No one should have to be misgendered on an international stage like this. Sports don’t know what to do with the non-binary athletes.
“Shoutout to Alana Smith, the first openly non-binary athlete to represent the US in the Olympic Games.”
“Why do the announcers keep misgendering Alana Smith??? They literally have ‘they/them’ on their skateboard,” a third fumed.
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Although Smith was optimistic about earning a medal at their first Olympics, they didn’t qualify for the medal round.
Smith’s total score was 1.35, and winner Funa Nakayama scored 15.77.
Despite the results, the skateboarder received tons of support for representing their country.
On Smith’s Team USA biography, they said: “Skateboarding gives you the space to be able to be yourself and grow as a human and be supported throughout the entire way.
“I just want to be known as a good skater, someone that made a difference.
“Gender shouldn’t matter.”
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