American Pole Vaulter Stops Mid Attempt for the National Anthem [VIDEO]
No one would have blamed him if he kept going, but it was the right thing to do.
Track and field athlete Sam Kendricks was competing in the Olympics this week. It was the qualifying round for the pole vault. Sam barrels down the path and then all of the sudden, the American National Anthem starts playing. Sam comes to a screeching halt and throws down the pole. Sam stands there and honors his country. Cool move man.
Real quick, I want to address something that pissed me off at this year's Olympics. American Gymnast Gabby Douglas got a huge amount of negative criticism for not placing her hand over her heart during the national anthem. She even had to apologize about it. Why? She did nothing wrong.
I was taught when I was six, the hand over your heart is reserved for the Pledge of Allegiance. Not the National Anthem. Sam Kendricks did exactly what Gabby did. Stand at attention and honor your country. I get why Sam is being called a true patriot for stopping in the middle of an event, but why did Gabby have to apologize for doing the same thing?