To no one’s surprise, the U.S. cleaned up at the Olympics. With 126 medals in total, it took a vast lead, with rival China a distant second at ninety-one. American women shone with particular brightness, earning sixty-seven of our country’s medals.

But it’s worth remembering that the Olympics are not supposed to be primarily about winning; they are supposed to celebrate international fellowship, friendship, and fairness. The original Olympic Charter says the purpose of the games is to “encourage effort,” “preserve human dignity,” and “develop harmony.” Indeed, many countries and many outstanding athletes are proud just to have been there, having understood from the start that their chances of bringing home a medal were slim to zero.

As an American, I find it deeply embarrassing that we are now providing an Olympic anti-spectacle through unseemly bickering over one bronze medal.

To recap: in the gymnastics final, Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu was awarded bronze. To my layperson’s eye, her performance was stunning, sharp, quick, graceful, and creative. Her sheer happiness at the win was endearing—an emotional moment of pure delight—as she was handed her country’s flag and prepared for her moment on the podium. But then came the stunning reversal. The coach of Jordan Chiles, who at that point was in fifth place, registered a challenge, saying that one of her levels of difficulty had not been fully scored. The judges agreed, and Barbosa had her victory snatched away. Clearly stunned, she collapsed in shock while Chiles and her team broke out in what one can only describe as unnecessarily cruel jubilation. The Olympic spirit had clearly done an aerial walkover and vaulted right out of the arena.

But the story was not over. The Romanians, for their part, now also registered a challenge, in response to which it was found that the American challenge had been submitted outside of the allowed timeframe. According to the regulations, a team has one minute to notice an error, and the USA team exceeded that limit by four seconds. The Romanians had actually taken a very kind and sportsmanlike position on the issue, suggesting a compromise. Both young women, they argued, should receive the bronze medal. However, the Court of Arbitration for Sport instead judged that the American challenge had been invalid and that bronze must be returned to Romania.

Two bronze medals would have been best, but even the actual outcome could have been positive. Both young women could have felt vindicated—the Romanian feeling that she won after all, the American concluding that she only lost on a technicality and, anyway, was going home with a gold medal from an earlier event.

But no. USA Gymnastics issued a statement pronouncing themselves “devastated.” Still not ready to get a grip, they declared that they would challenge the manner in which the timing of their complaint had been measured.

This is pathetic. The United States is a large, wealthy country. It can draw on a huge talent pool. Its schools and its sports organizations can afford top training opportunities, big sponsorships, and the best trainers drawn from all over the world. Our sports organizations are influential and powerful. A sports nation that wins 126 medals is not “devastated” over one little bronze medal going to someone else. It is unseemly, at best, for USA Gymnastics to engage in this tug-of-war. At the Olympics, our athletes are supposed to be representatives of their country. Generosity and graceful acceptance would serve the Olympic spirit and America’s image better than this embarrassing spat.

Cheryl Benard spent years as a diplomatic wife with the U.S. Foreign Service.

Image: A. Ricardo / Shutterstock.com.