Team GB olympian under investigation after 'racist' WhatsApp messages are leaked

A Team GB Olympian is under investigation after an alleged racist WhatsApp message surfaced online.

Officials are looking into a screenshot that shows rugby sevens star Amy Wilson-Hardy allegedly making offensive comments during a conversation with an unnamed individual.

The picture, which was obtained by The Telegraph, shows the 32-year-old seemingly posing while wearing a dark-colored facemask.

An unidentified person wrote underneath the snap: “Genuine chocolate face," to which Wilson-Hardy reportedly responded: "Thought I’d have a better chance with the blacks."

Amy Wilson-Hardy is being investigated for her racist comments. Credit: Barrington Coombs / Getty

The image was shared on Instagram by an anonymous account along with the caption: “A little black face racism by Team GB Rugby 7’s Amy Wilson-Hardy even joking she’ll have a better chance with the blacks.” The account has now been deleted.

A spokesperson for The British Olympic Association revealed that Wilson-Hardy was being investigated after the appalling alleged remarks made in the screengrab leaked on social media.

“The British Olympic Association has been made aware of an image on a social media platform and is investigating the matter," the statement read, per The Telegraph.

According to The Independent, Wilson Hardy also withdrew from the Olympic team after it was announced that she was being probed by officials.

“The British Olympic Association has confirmed that Amy Wilson Hardy has been withdrawn on medical grounds from the Paris 2024 rugby sevens placement matches and will be replaced by Tokyo 2020 Olympian Abi Burton,” an official confirmed.

Amy Wilson-Hardy withdrew from the Olympics after it was revealed that she was being investigated for her racist comments. Credit: Nathan Stirk / Getty

The athlete, who made her debut in 2013, was part of Team GB's rugby sevens squad for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. She has 10 caps for England and this was her second Olympic Games after she was selected for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

From West Sussex, she won a bronze medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and was selected for the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup squad.

She helped Team GB beat Ireland and South Africa in the group stage to secure a place in the quarter-finals, where they lost 17-7 to the United States at the Stade de France on Monday (July 29), ending their medal hopes.

Team USA will take on New Zealand in the semi-final, with the winner set to face Canada or Australia in the gold medal match.

Featured image credit: Barrington Coombs / Getty