Jhancarlos Gonzalez has issued an apology after he raised a middle finger to the camera during his Olympic street skateboarding heat.
The 27-year-old finished bottom of the men’s street skateboarding prelims on Monday and failed to qualify for the final.
During his run, Gonzalez was unable to land a trick on a rail and during one attempt he fell awkwardly on his back.
As he got to his feet, the Colombian glared at the overhead camera before he spotted a second camera and stuck up his middle finger.
Gonzalez faced criticism over his gesture in Colombia but claims his ‘moment of rage’ came after the cameraman ignored his request to move out of the way before he skated down the rail.
In a message on Instagram after the event, Gonzalez wrote: ‘I wanted to thank all the people who watched me and supported me, it didn’t go very well, I tried to do my best but it wasn’t my day, I got hurt a little.
‘I already had a blow and I did not want to hit myself again and I apologise for my gesture towards World Skate Skateboarding and World Skate official, to the people, children and family who saw me.
‘But it was a moment of rage where they put the camera in front of me. It was the place where I was going to skate and I thought he might hit me, I warned him not to put it in front of the obstacles, this won’t be the last time I try it, for now I don’t feel like skating.
‘I just want to spend time with my mom and my dog, I haven’t seen them in a long time.’
Japan’s Yuto Horigome retained his Olympic title by winning gold in a tense final.
United States’ Jagger Eaton, who won bronze in Tokyo, finished with the silver medal in Paris, while his compatriot, Nyjah Huston, claimed bronze.
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