NFL
By: Zach Draves
Out of the many faces in the crowd of rioting band of white supremacist domestic terrorists that stood out was that of an Olympic medalist. His name is Klette Keller. An accomplished swimmer who won medals at the 2000, 2004, and 2008 Olympics. He even anchored for Michael Phelps.
However, during the insurrection on January 6th, he showed his true colors. They were more in line with the red, white, blue of the confederacy.
He dared to go to Washington to stand in solidarity with white supremacist patriarchal nativism. And, an added layer of neo-fascism while donning Olympic attire shows exactly who he is.
He proclaims that he was in the wrong. He struggles with mental illness, homelessness, and divorce and says he needs all the help he can get. Still, he chose to go to the riot at the behest of the outgoing disgraced president.
Expect calls for him to be understood, given sympathy, or possibly provided with opportunities at redemption. He won’t face the type of respectability politics typically leveled at black athletes.
In other words, fans won’t ask Keller questions about where his father is or what type of music influenced his decision making.
Punishment Not Enough
He faces up to 15.5 years in federal prison on everything from obstructing law enforcement to unlawfully entering the Capitol grounds. But that still isn’t enough.
He disgraced the so-called Olympic movement and everything it proclaims to stand for. He should pay an additional price, and the IOC must strip his medals.
This is the part where the Olympic powers need to step up and practice what they preach.
If the USOPC and IOC can utilize their influence to ostracise and punish Jim Thorpe, Tommie Smith, John Carlos, Peter Norman, Gwen Berry, and Race Imboden, that same standard needs to apply to Keller.
In December, the USOPC announced that they would not punish athletes who engage in political protests, and the IOC still has Rule 50 enacted that prohibits such expressions.
The irony and hypocrisy are unmistakable.
The Olympics have long been a political gathering. Often, the kind of politics expressed by Keller and his terrorist acolytes have been promoted and rewarded under the guise of sportsmanship.
Smith, Carlos, Norman, Berry, and Imboden use their athletic platform to call for human rights and justice. Fans tell them to “stick to sports” or that they are “violating the sanctity of the games” or much worse.
As we still come to terms with the terror of January 6th, the Olympics need to take a look in the mirror. They are complicit in promoting and normalizing the politics of hate and nationalism that took over the Capitol building. Simultaneously, they claim they are an apolitical example of diversity and human dignity.
It goes well beyond Klette Keller, who should be referred to for what he is, an Olympic hypocrite.
