Sarah Groff's Embarrassing Quote...

I'm aware that crashes happen and people get injured. I also know that draft-legal races require pretty incredible technical abilities.  Finally,  I realize she did not do this on purpose and did not intend to injure anyone.  However,  her obvious excitement about the situation and her goal in seeking attention from it on You Tube of all places was pretty amazing to me.  It made her come across as not too bright or mature really, but perhaps not everyone sees it this way.  It just strikes me as a comment that a 12 year-old on the playground might make, rather than a world-class athlete that is representing her country on an international level. 

Hi everyone,

I completely understand how my quote can seem incredibly callous and insensitive; I would probably judge someone equally harshly if I were to come across something similar.  If the athlete that I had to jump over in the race were harmed in any way by my action, I would treat the situation with the appropriate gravity.  

In the midst of the race, I had two courses of action: ride over the crashed athlete or try to veer over her.  Had I picked the second option, I would have harmed her and myself in the process; anyone familiar with bike racing would really this to be the case.  In the process, what was required was a very high level of bike handling skills that I've never displayed in my life and may never display again. 

I recognize that the way that I addressed the situation was crass and disrespectful; I pride myself on trying to conduct myself with the highest possible level of sportsmanship and class in competition and my comments are not reflective of that.  I am proud to represent my sport and my country and I apologize profusely if I have embarrassed myself and my my fellow Americans with my comments.  WHen I spoke, I was attempting to bring levity to the heartbreak of finishing fourth in the Olympic Games and falling short of my goal of bringing home a medal for my country; I meant no disrespect to my fellow competitors, whom I respect deeply.

Thank you for your candor.  I welcome any criticism, especially if it is justified, and can only hope that my explanation makes puts the situation into perspective a bit.

Best,

Sarah

Hi everyone,

I completely understand how my quote can seem incredibly callous and insensitive; I would probably judge someone equally harshly if I were to come across something similar.  If the athlete that I had to jump over in the race were harmed in any way by my action, I would treat the situation with the appropriate gravity.  

In the midst of the race, I had two courses of action: ride over the crashed athlete or try to veer over her.  Had I picked the second option, I would have harmed her and myself in the process; anyone familiar with bike racing would really this to be the case.  In the process, what was required was a very high level of bike handling skills that I've never displayed in my life and may never display again. 

I recognize that the way that I addressed the situation was crass and disrespectful; I pride myself on trying to conduct myself with the highest possible level of sportsmanship and class in competition and my comments are not reflective of that.  I am proud to represent my sport and my country and I apologize profusely if I have embarrassed myself and my my fellow Americans with my comments.  WHen I spoke, I was attempting to bring levity to the heartbreak of finishing fourth in the Olympic Games and falling short of my goal of bringing home a medal for my country; I meant no disrespect to my fellow competitors, whom I respect deeply.

Thank you for your candor.  I welcome any criticism, especially if it is justified, and can only hope that my explanation makes puts the situation into perspective a bit.

Best,

Sarah

Hi everyone,

I completely understand how my quote can seem incredibly callous and insensitive; I would probably judge someone equally harshly if I were to come across something similar.  If the athlete that I had to jump over in the race were harmed in any way by my action, I would treat the situation with the appropriate gravity.  

In the midst of the race, I had two courses of action: ride over the crashed athlete or try to veer over her.  Had I picked the second option, I would have harmed her and myself in the process; anyone familiar with bike racing would really this to be the case.  In the process, what was required was a very high level of bike handling skills that I've never displayed in my life and may never display again. 

I recognize that the way that I addressed the situation was crass and disrespectful; I pride myself on trying to conduct myself with the highest possible level of sportsmanship and class in competition and my comments are not reflective of that.  I am proud to represent my sport and my country and I apologize profusely if I have embarrassed myself and my my fellow Americans with my comments.  WHen I spoke, I was attempting to bring levity to the heartbreak of finishing fourth in the Olympic Games and falling short of my goal of bringing home a medal for my country; I meant no disrespect to my fellow competitors, whom I respect deeply.

Thank you for your candor.  I welcome any criticism, especially if it is justified, and can only hope that my explanation makes puts the situation into perspective a bit.

Best,

Sarah

Hi everyone,

I completely understand how my quote can seem incredibly callous and insensitive; I would probably judge someone equally harshly if I were to come across something similar.  If the athlete that I had to jump over in the race were harmed in any way by my action, I would treat the situation with the appropriate gravity.  

In the midst of the race, I had two courses of action: ride over the crashed athlete or try to veer over her.  Had I picked the second option, I would have harmed her and myself in the process; anyone familiar with bike racing would really this to be the case.  In the process, what was required was a very high level of bike handling skills that I've never displayed in my life and may never display again. 

I recognize that the way that I addressed the situation was crass and disrespectful; I pride myself on trying to conduct myself with the highest possible level of sportsmanship and class in competition and my comments are not reflective of that.  I am proud to represent my sport and my country and I apologize profusely if I have embarrassed myself and my my fellow Americans with my comments.  WHen I spoke, I was attempting to bring levity to the heartbreak of finishing fourth in the Olympic Games and falling short of my goal of bringing home a medal for my country; I meant no disrespect to my fellow competitors, whom I respect deeply.

Thank you for your candor.  I welcome any criticism, especially if it is justified, and can only hope that my explanation makes puts the situation into perspective a bit.

Best,

Sarah

Hi everyone,

I completely understand how my quote can seem incredibly callous and insensitive; I would probably judge someone equally harshly if I were to come across something similar.  If the athlete that I had to jump over in the race were harmed in any way by my action, I would treat the situation with the appropriate gravity.  

In the midst of the race, I had two courses of action: ride over the crashed athlete or try to veer over her.  Had I picked the second option, I would have harmed her and myself in the process; anyone familiar with bike racing would really this to be the case.  In the process, what was required was a very high level of bike handling skills that I've never displayed in my life and may never display again. 

I recognize that the way that I addressed the situation was crass and disrespectful; I pride myself on trying to conduct myself with the highest possible level of sportsmanship and class in competition and my comments are not reflective of that.  I am proud to represent my sport and my country and I apologize profusely if I have embarrassed myself and my my fellow Americans with my comments.  WHen I spoke, I was attempting to bring levity to the heartbreak of finishing fourth in the Olympic Games and falling short of my goal of bringing home a medal for my country; I meant no disrespect to my fellow competitors, whom I respect deeply.

Thank you for your candor.  I welcome any criticism, especially if it is justified, and can only hope that my explanation makes puts the situation into perspective a bit.

Best,

Sarah