Ex-Alabama gymnast Tia Kiaku details racist incidents during time in Crimson Tide program
Tia Kiaku addressed claims of racist behavior with University of Alabama leadership, gymnastics coaches and fellow gymnasts. In all instances, she felt she was not taken seriously.
Kiaku said she confronted a teammate about use of the N-word during a practice and was told it was a joke. At a practice, she said, an assistant coach approached the program’s three black gymnasts in a vault drill together and asked, “What is this, the back of the bus?” She reported that incident and three UA offices got involved in an investigation that ensued.
Kiaku took her frustrations to Instagram and Twitter on Tuesday, airing her concerns of racism in the program. She posted about the incident with the assistant coach as an example, but the former UA gymnast related further incidents in an interview with The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network.
“After the investigation, I was told the coach that made the remarks had something on his record and it was basically deemed a bad joke,” Kiaku said Wednesday.
Kiaku did not identify the coach in the social media post, but told The Tuscaloosa News it was Bill Lorenz, adding the incident occurred in a practice near the end of the fall semester. She also identified the other two gymnasts participating in the practice drill as Makarri Doggette and Sania Mitchell. Doggette and Mitchell both remained with the team for the 2020 season; Kiaku left the team after the fall semester, before the 2020 season began in January.
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Lorenz issued a statement to The Tuscaloosa News through UA media relations:
“This has been a learning experience that has impacted me both personally and professionally, and I will continue to learn,” he said in the statement. “What was intended to be a lighthearted comment ended up having an offensive impact, and I regret that. It hurts me that I hurt anyone. I care so much about this team and our student-athletes, and I believe they know that. I’ll admit that I have many flaws, but I believe they also know that I had no intention of hurting anyone and that I don’t support treating anyone differently based on their race. I’m grateful to be part of a team that provides the opportunity to learn from each other and grow together when mistakes are made. That’s something I value and will never take for granted. I will be better. I am genuinely sorry.”
