A top-ranked Alaska high school swimmer won the 100-meter freestyle at Friday night's meet, only to be disqualified over a "suit wedgie"—to much uproar. Now, a reversal. The Anchorage Daily News reports that following a review of what happened to 17-year-old Breckynn Willis, the Alaska School Activities Association said in a Tuesday night statement it found "the official did not notify the coach prior to disqualifying the student" as required by the rules. As such, the decision has been reversed and Breckynn's points awarded to the team. In its own statement issued Tuesday, the Anchorage School District was harsh in its condemnation of the situation, writing that it determined "our swimmer was targeted based solely on how a standard, school-issued uniform happened to fit the shape of her body."
"We cannot tolerate discrimination of any kind, and certainly not based on body shape," it continued. "This disqualification was heavy-handed and unnecessary." The referee who made the call said the teen's buttocks weren't covered by the suit as required, claiming the suit "was so far up I could see butt cheek touching butt cheek." Her Dimond High School coach alleged Breckynn, as well as her sisters, were targeted "not for the way they wear their suits but for the way those suits fit their curvier, fuller figured bodies." In an appeal, the district has asked Alaska School Activities Association to decertify the ref and suspend the suit coverage rule so that it can be rewritten. NBC News reports Breckynn won state titles in 2018 in the 200-meter freestyle and 100-meter butterfly. (More swimming stories.)
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