I suppose if the withdrawal had happened prior to all the political and covid woke mess that has happened in the last several years then perhaps folks’ hearts might have been more open to the young lady’s plight.
Fair or not she gets lumped in with all the other kneelers and anti American whiners of which we’ve had to contend with.
That she might have withdrawn because she wasn’t performing well and didn’t want to hurt her team-mates anymore than she was doing doesn’t seem to be the message, even if intended, that is getting out there. It might have been better to say...”Look, I’m not performing well right now as my head isn’t in the right place and I’m dragging the team down, lets get an alternate in place so that my team has a better chance at a metal.” I think more people would have understood that scenario better than how she and her coaches decided to portray the situation in the media.
The fact she said she’s not having fun anymore...and reference that she really wasn’t into representing the USA... says far more than anything her coaches throw out there.
I’ve made a point to watch her along the way...it was “FUN” to see her excel......and I was proud she represented our country. ...frankly she just destroyed that for ME. What a loser she’s become in quick time....the Olympic Stage is not the place to throw in the towel as was done.