Amy Wilson-Hardy Withdraws from Olympics Amid Racial Allegations

Amy Wilson-Hardy, a player for Team GB‘s rugby sevens team, has been taken out of the Olympics due to health reasons. This happened just a day after the British Olympic Association (BOA) announced they were looking into allegations that she sent a racist message.

Her spot was filled by Abi Burton, who also played for Team GB in the Tokyo Games. Wilson-Hardy’s withdrawal came right before the team faced off against China, a match they narrowly lost 19-15 but later secured a victory over Ireland, finishing seventh overall.

In an official statement, the BOA confirmed that Wilson-Hardy was removed from the placement matches for medical reasons and that the investigation regarding the alleged message was still ongoing.

An image that appeared on social media, allegedly showing Wilson-Hardy’s racist message, surfaced just before the BOA’s announcement. At that point, a spokesperson for the BOA acknowledged that they were aware of the situation and were looking into it further.

Wilson-Hardy had been part of Team GB’s previous match, where they lost 17-7 to the USA, which ended their chances for a medal in this year’s Olympic games. She previously played in the 2016 Rio Olympics, where the team finished in fourth place.

With a degree in engineering from Bath University, Wilson-Hardy has also represented England in the Women’s Rugby World Cup and played for various clubs, including Wasps and Bristol Bears. As for the Olympic tournament, New Zealand took home the gold medal after defeating Canada, while the United States clinched the bronze against Australia.