Skateboarder Agliardi: I faced terrible racism in the French team

Julian Agliardi, a member of the US skateboard team, said he faced racism when he wanted to compete in the French team.

This was reported by "Report" citing foreign media.

Since the athlete's father is French, the skateboarder initially planned to represent this country in international competitions.

"I tried to compete for France - and it was a complete nightmare," the athlete said.

"I went to Paris to participate in the Far'n High tournament, I was the youngest member of the French national team. In the end, I was the only athlete who made it to the final. Then the coach told me: "The team is very upset about its performance, so we are leaving the tournament. If you want to play in the final, play, but then you will be removed from the team." But I skated in the final," Agliardi emphasized.

Agliardi was removed from the French national team. The athlete believes that this decision was related to racism, among other things. Julian's mother is American and his grandmother is Chinese. According to Agliardi, the national team reminded him that he was not purely French:

"There was terrible racism in the French national team. Some said that I was just "half French". As a result, the coach did not allow me to participate in the required number of qualifying tournaments to go to the Olympics. Then I asked the International Olympic Committee to release me from the French national team and joined the US team."

Agliardi plans to represent the US team at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.