Photo: 2KTUU
Breckynn Willis, a state championship swimmer who attends Dimond High School in Anchorage,won the 100-meter freestyleagainst Chugiak High School, only to have a referee strip her of the victory because her butt was slightly exposed in the suit,according to KTUU.
“We have a term for it — it’s called a suit wedgie. And wedgies happen. It’s uncomfortable. No one’s going to walk around that way intentionally,” Lauren Langford, director of YMCA aquatics and coach of West High School’s swim team,told theWashington Post.
Langford added to KTUU: “The rest of her team was wearing the same uniform, and she was the only one disqualified. It is my opinion that she has been targeted and singled out over the course of the last year.”
Dimond High School.Google Maps
The National Federation of State High School Associations, the governing body for high school athletics in Alaska, states that “females shall wear suits whichcover the buttocks and breasts.” An official who worked at Friday’s meettold theAnchorage Daily Newsthat the referee who disqualified Willis said she saw “butt cheek touching butt cheek.”
The Anchorage School District — which did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment — said in a statement that it is investigating the incident and would not tolerate any actions that “discriminate” or “target” student athletes.
“We intend to gather all the facts surrounding the disqualification so we can accurately address the matter with officials and take appropriate action to ensure fair, equitable competition and consistent application of the rules for this athlete and her peers,”officials said in a statementon the district’s website.
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However, Willis’ supporters said she and her younger sister, Dreamer Kowatch, should be rewarded for their talent, not punished. Langford, meanwhile, said racism and sexism likely played a role in the ref’s decision.
“They’re just an inspiration that should be celebrated and applauded, not rebuked,” trainer Dewayne Ingram told KTUU.
source: people.com
