Story at a glance
- University of Wisconsin wrestler Austin Gomez detailed on social media verbal abuse leveled at him and his family during a wrestling match at Iowa’s Carver Hawkeye Arena on Saturday.
- “Hopefully there is action taken so other student-athletes and families don’t have to have the same experience in the future,” Gomez wrote.
- Gomez won his match in a 3-2 decision in the 149-pound weight class.
The University of Iowa athletic department has apologized to another university’s wrestler who said an Iowa fan targeted him with a racial slur.
University of Wisconsin wrestler Austin Gomez detailed on social media verbal abuse leveled at his family and him during a wrestling match at Iowa’s Carver Hawkeye Arena over the weekend. Gomez wrote that his family, including his 16-year-old sister, were targets of taunts and that one fan called him a racial slur after the match.
“Iowa fans are some of the most loyal and passionate fans in the country who will back their team no matter what and I love that,” Gomez tweeted. “But there comes a time where certain fans (not all fans) cross a line that doesn’t need to be crossed.”
“Hopefully there is action taken so other student-athletes and families don’t have to have the same experience in the future,” Gomez added.
Gomez won his match in a 3-2 decision in the 149-pound weight class.
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The Iowa athletic department released a statement on Sunday, saying it “denounces any act of hatred” and that the university has reached out to Gomez and the University of Wisconsin.
“Any individual found in violation of our fan behavior policy is subject to being banned from attending future Hawkeye athletic events.”
Wisconsin athletic director Chris McIntosh said in a statement that “this behavior has no place in the Big Ten and college athletics as a whole.”
“It is totally unacceptable. We have been in contact with Austin, his parents and the Iowa athletics administration and I am thankful that our colleagues at Iowa are investigating the incident,” McIntosh continued. “I appreciate the Gomez family having the courage to bring this to light. They have our complete support.”
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