ATHLETICS
Spanish Olympian Peleteiro hits out after barrage of racist abuse
The bronze medal winner at the Tokyo Olympics modelled the new Spanish sporting clothing range ahead of the Paris 2024 games.
Galician triple jumper Ana Peleteiro was one of the Spanish athletes selected to model the new range of sportswear produced by Toledo based brand Joma ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Sadly, her Instagram posts have been met with a series of racist comments which the 28-year-old was quick to denounce.
“I am receiving countless racist comments,” said the Olympic medal winner and added that she was trying to delete and block said users adding, “they continue to leave messages of hate and contempt every time I upload any type of video wearing the national team’s sportswear,” she stated on an Instagram story.
The A Coruña born athlete added: “It makes me very angry and helpless, but above all PAIN.” adding “to this day these types of people continue to exist and that they are left unchallenged without any type of retaliation”.
Peleteiro then displayed a series of the toxic messages, insults and comments she received.
This comes on the verge of her competing at the European Championships in Rome, which begins this Friday and ends on 12 June.
The 28-year-old triple jumper remained defiant, concluding: “I will convert (these emotions) into strength so that all those who mock or question our nationality then have the audacity to put their hand on their chest when listening to the Spanish national anthem thanks to our successes”.