"Do this all the time to female athletes"; "Pure sickos"- Fans furious over broadcasters focusing on Chari Hawkins' tearful breakdown at Paris 2024

Fans expressed their outrage over the prolonged camera focus on Chari Hawkins, who became emotional after not clearing the required heptathlon high jump mark at the Paris Olympics. It ultimately led to her disqualification from the event.

Hopkins participated in the heptathlon qualifiers, putting forth an impressive performance in the opening 100m hurdles event, where she clocked 13.16 seconds to earn a score of 1100 points and an overall fifth place. In the second event, i.e., the high jump, she failed to clear the 1.71-meter mark and received zero points.

Following that, she finished 22nd on the participant list, which ultimately impacted her chances for a medal. Notably, after the conclusion of the hurdles, she was only 44 points behind Annik Kaelin of Switzerland, who was leading the points table.

Chari Hawkins was in disbelief as she came to know that she had not made it to the next round.

"Oh my gosh. I don't even know what to do. I'm like literally so shocked right now. No" she said.

Her reaction was captured so closely that it sparked anger among the fans. Reacting to Emmanuel Acho's video of the coverage, a fan wrote:

"Broadcasting more than 5-10 seconds of this on live TV is/was unconscionable. Show the moment, & then move the F on to something else. Sports broadcasters do this all the time to female athletes, endlessly lingering shots of them being distraught and in tears."

Here are more reactions from the fans who shared their take on the incident:

"I get that the camera men want to capture major moments at the Olympics but there’s something so sinister about keeping the camera on Chari Hawkins as she found out that news the ENTIRE TIME," a fan wrote.

"Why TF did USA have a camera in Chari Hawkins’ face at that heartbreaking movement? Sometimes these networks are pure sickos," another fan commented.

"Keeping the camera on Chari Hawkins while she’s processing being out of the heptathlon was so sinister," a fan tweeted.

"The oppressively close gang of photographers and long in your face closeups are cringy! Kudos to athletes for not slugging some of them!," another fan added.

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What's next for Chari Hawkins at the Paris Olympics

The Olympic Games-Paris 2024 - Source: Getty

Hawkins is currently second-last with a score of 1100 points, and Sophie Weissenberg of Germany is the only athlete behind her with zero points. However, the American heptathlete will still be participating in the remaining haptathlon events at the Paris Olympics.

Hawkins' compatriots Anna Hall, the 2023 World Championships silver medalist, and Taliyah Brooks are still in medal contention for the United States. Hall is placed third with a score of 2164, while Brooks is in sixth place after earning an overall score of 2065. They will now be participating in the shot put and the 200m, the next two events of the heptathlon taking place on Thursday, August 8.