Former Olympian Caitlyn Jenner SLAMS Gwen Berry for protesting the National Anthem on the podium

Jenner won the Decathlon gold medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. "I was the first person ever to put the American flag up at the finish line in 1976 and I've very proud of that because I'm proud of my country. I'm proud that my country gave me the opportunity to grow up to be who I am."

"I don't like political statements on the podium," the reality TV star went on. "We shouldn't do that. This is the greatest gathering of people and countries in the world. Over 200 countries will be at the Olympic Games—there's 150-something countries in the U.N. And it has such potential for good. Don't destroy it," continued Jenner, according to Newsweek.

Berry, who took third place in national trials for the Olympics, turned away from the flag on Saturday as the anthem start playing, and then covered her head with a black shirt she had on, so people could say the words "activist athlete" that she had printed on it.

Berry told the media in turn, "I never said that I didn't want to go to the Olympic Games. I never said that I hated the country. I never said that. All I said was I respect my people enough to not stand or acknowledge something that disrespects them."

She, however, did still insist that the US National Anthem "disrespects Black Americans." Back in 2019, Berry raised her fist in a salute when on the podium at the Pan-American games, after having won a gold medal.