KEY POINTS
- The U.S. men’s basketball team claimed its fifth consecutive gold medal by defeating France 98-87 at the Paris Olympics.
- Joel Embiid, who chose to play for the United States despite having French citizenship, faced significant booing from French fans throughout the tournament.
- Embiid publicly responded to the crowd’s hostility with a defiant gesture, adding to the controversy surrounding his decision to represent Team USA.
The U.S. men’s basketball team claimed its fifth consecutive gold medal with a 98-87 victory over France at the Olympic Games. The game, held at the Paris venue, brought the tournament to a close for the American team, which achieved the expected result despite significant challenges.
The event was marked by discontent among French fans. Throughout the competition, Joel EmbiidA Cameroonian by birth who chose to represent the United States instead of France, Embiid was the subject of constant booing from French spectators. This response was a consequence of Embiid’s decision to play for the United States despite having obtained French citizenship in 2022. Many had anticipated his participation with the French team due to his dual allegiance.
Philadelphia 76ers player Embiid was expected to join the French Olympic team. LeBron James and Kevin Durant, two of his most prominent teammates, strongly encouraged him to choose the American side. The athlete’s decision to represent the United States was affected by his 16-year residence in the country.
Videos of Embiid accepting the gold medal with Team USA were widely shared on social media, especially on X, formerly called Twitter. On one such video, a user commented and called Embiid a “gold medal hunter.”
Another person commented: “Winning a gold medal with France would have been more respectable. I chose the easy way out.”
Another user commented under the video and called France more racist than Argentina.
There were a few comments that reflected Joel Embiid’s reaction to the boos and jeers. Evidently, netizens felt that Embiid paid no attention to his detractors. There were also shades of sympathy in some comments:
During the tournament, Embiid openly addressed the hostility of the crowd. After the United States’ semi-final win over Serbia, he confronted the French fans and responded to their boos with a defiant gesture. He asked the French audience to “take a breath” in response to all the jeers.
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