An American gold medal fencer kneeled on the podium during the national anthem: 'We must call for change'

• American fencer Race Imboden keeled during the medal ceremony Friday at the Pan American Games.
• Imboden, who took home the gold in the team event and bronze individually, posted his motivation on Twitter.
• The fencer wrote that he kneeled because of "the multiple shortcomings of the country I hold so dear to my heart. Racism, Gun Control, mistreatment of immigrants, and a president who spreads hate are at the top of a long list."
• Imboden wasn't the only athlete to protest on the podium during the Pan American Games, which were held in Lima, Peru.

American fencer Race Imboden keeled during the medal ceremony Friday at the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru.

Imboden tied for the bronze medal in the individual men's foil event with Maximilien van Haaster of Canada, according to The Washington Post. But the 26 year old took the gold in the team competition.

Imboden knelt when the national anthem played during the team's medal ceremony, according to The Associated Press. His teammates, Gerek Meinhardt and Nick Itkin, did not kneel with him.

On Twitter, the fencer explained why he did it.

"We must call for change. This week I am honored to represent Team USA at the Pan Am Games, taking home Gold and Bronze. My pride, however, has been cut short by the multiple shortcomings of the country I hold so dear to my heart," Imboden tweeted. "Racism, gun control, mistreatment of immigrants, and a president who spreads hate are at the top of a long list."

He continued: "I chose to sacrifice my moment today at the top of the podium to call attention to issues that I believe need to be addressed. I encourage others to please use your platforms for empowerment and change."

According to NBC Sports, Imboden and teammate Miles Chamley-Watson previously kneeled when the national anthem played at the 2017 World Cup held in Egypt. 

Mark Jones, Vice President of Communications of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee issued a statement to the Associated Press about the athlete.

"Every athlete competing at the 2019 Pan American Games commits to terms of eligibility, including to refrain from demonstrations that are political in nature," Jones said. "In this case, Race didn't adhere to the commitment he made to the organizing committee and the USOPC."

The statement continued: "We respect his rights to express his viewpoints, but we are disappointed that he chose not to honor his commitment. Our leadership are reviewing what consequences may result."

The USOPC provided the same statement to NBC Sports on Saturday after hammer thrower Gwen Berry raiser her fist during the national anthem.

"Somebody has to talk about the things that are too uncomfortable to talk about," Berry told USA Today. "Somebody has to stand for all of the injustices that are going on in America and a president who's making it worse."

These athletes' actions come during a week in which the nation reeled from two shootings, one in El Paso, Texas, and another in Dayton, Ohio. The previous week, there had been a shooting at a Garlic Festival in the town of Gilroy, California.

And just before President Trump went to visit shooting victims in El Paso, US immigration officials raided several food-processing plants in the state of Mississippi and arrested 680 employees — most of whom were Latino, according to The Associated Press. After the raids, photos showed children who were left alone, crying without their parents or guardians.

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