Nonsense!!! You make a terrible assumption and so did he. Who says he will
be back in 2004?! Jason Gardener was the best Brit last year, he got sick at
the WC, and got hurt this year, lost to a 17 yr old phenom, who graciously
gave up his spot for him. Dwain Chambers did not medal, Darren Campbell wins
silver in the 200m, and the vaunted British relay does not get the stick
around.
There are NO guarantees in this game, and thinking you will have another
chance at OG glory is foolhardy. I think it was an incredible chance to
take, and the bottom line is that in sprints if the US does not take it
seriously, it is downgraded, on the international level. And like I said, he
competed against a field that was a tenth of a second slower than him at
their best, and 2 tenths slower than him in the final.
I was at the meet, and it resembled nothing of a World Championship. I
appreciate the significance of any World title (I coached one of the
winners), but I do not confuse the atmosphere, or pressure with that of
World's, and definitely not the Olympics.
Take Monique Henderson for example. While I think it was unfair the way she
was treated, and used or not used, I know it was invaluable for her to be
there and see, and experience what it is all about at this level. Even if it
is simply the removal of the mystique of it. She knows what it will be like
to be there, if she makes it back. She will be more of a red-shirt, than a
true freshman. There is no substitute for that, and I think Mark missed a
golden opportunity. Lest we forget he could have done both meets.
DGS
The G.O.A.T.
