Featured Image Credit: Twitter/@96Stats
Topics: Olympics, China, Social Media
Joe Yates
Despite Team USA picking up yet another medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics, there was a little bit of drama following it.
If you had tuned into the women's synchronized 3m springboard finals today, you might have seen a slightly 'awkward' moment.
It happened between silver-medalists US Olympians Sarah Bacon and Kassidy Cook, and China's gold-winning Chang Yani and Chen Yiwen.
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After the six women found out they would be going home with a medal, they were then asked to get a group photo where they would all stand on the one podium.
After the UK's athletes, who had picked up bronze for Team GB, had already moved onto the first place podium alongside winners Yani and Yiwen, Cook and Bacon went to move onto it.
The British and Chinese Olympians were stood at the back of the stand, so obviously the only place for Team USA to go was crouched at the bottom.
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But as they proceeded to do so, Yani and Yiwen stopped them in their tracks and allowed Cook and Bacon to stand while they sat at the front of the podium. You can see it here:
Taking to Twitter following the awkward moment, one user posted: "Slight awkward moment there between China and US as to who should be in the middle of podium for photo..
"Chinese social media said 'the chinese girls were very kind as they know foreigners can’t squat'."
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While I don't think there are sides to take as it ended amicably - not that there was ever any fisticuffs - the post still managed to have completely divided people on social media from all around the globe.
One user commented: "The Chinese athletes are simply generous. They sit down to avoid demonstrating their superiority. that is true sportsmanship."
And another person likened his sentiment, adding: "Chinese athletes are very well educated."
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Then there was the other side of the internet, who slated the US for simply moving to the only position on the podium - it is bizarre why they were all asked to share it to begin with!
One wrote: "Chinese won gold and they deserve to be outstanding in the middle. Manners."
And it didn't end there, as somebody pointed out that the athletes aren't 'polluted' by politics.
They said: "Before jumping to conclusions just remind yourself that they’re just teens without any pollution of politicians’ work."
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So what do you think, were any of the Olympians in the wrong?