Clara Adams was left in tears after being disqualified from the California State High School track and field championships, having won the 400m finals in a time of 53.24 seconds.
She had prepared her entire life for this moment, and it was taken away from her due to a silly celebration that did not hurt anybody.
Adams was stripped of her title after celebrating her victory in a manner deemed “disrespectful.”
Adams, a sophomore at North Salinas High School, was overwhelmed with emotion after crossing the finish line at Buchanan High in Clovis on Saturday, achieving a time of 53.24 seconds after a strong start in Lane 6. Her joy was short-lived as her triumph was marred by controversy on an already contentious day in California.
As Adams crossed the finish line to claim first place in the 400m race, she immediately made her way towards the spectators seated by the track.
In footage shared online, Clara Adams is seen approaching a man in the stands who turns out to be her father. He would hand her a fire extinguisher.
The track sensation grabbed a mini fire extinguisher from her dad and, after her victory lap, playfully sprayed her sneakers, suggesting they were ablaze.
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Clara Adams is Heartbroken
The 16-year-old sprinter from North Salinas High School was disqualified from the CIF State Championships after winning the 400-meter state final due to her post-race celebration involving a fire extinguisher.
“I worked so hard for that title,” Clara Adams said in her first comments since being stripped.
NEW: California track athlete breaks down in tears after her California state 400-meter gold medal was taken from her after she celebrated too much.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) June 3, 2025
Clara Adams was seen spraying her feet with a fire extinguisher after finishing in first place.
The 16-year-old is devastated,… pic.twitter.com/b28NvFEhm8
“When she blew the fire extinguisher, the opponents were gone,” David Adams, Clara’s father, said.
“That was our moment of celebration, and CIF officials made it about them. The crowd went crazy, they loved it, the CIF booth went crazy, they loved it. But those few guys in those jackets took offense to it, didn’t like it, and made a decision based off emotions.”
Clara Adams cried as she explained that her moment was stripped, even if a ruling went in her favor.
“Even if everything goes in my favor … in regards to like getting my title back, I’ll still never get that moment back, like standing on the podium as a sophomore. I’ll never get that back ’cause they took it from me.”
