by Stuart Weir
Sport can be harsh!
It is within the nature of the sport that it is unpredictable, that there are winners and losers. Skill is important in determining the outcome, but sheer bad luck, misfortune, etc., also play a part.
Nia Ali is the defending world champion in 100m hurdles. Progressing through the prelims should have been easy. It was until she hit hurdle 8, stumbled, crashed into hurdle 9, and crawled to the line but was, in any case, disqualified.
Nia’s fall interfered with the Belgian athlete, Anne Zagre, who failed to qualify as a result. Zagre appealed, and the appeal was upheld. She was to run alone for a place in the Semi-Final, determined by her time. She was well up with the required time when she hit a hurdle and fell. Race over. You couldn’t make it up.
Then there was Damian Warner, comfortably leading the Decathlon when his hamstring went during the 400m. End of competition.
The GB women’s 4 by 100 was also hamstrung when in a medal-winning position – Dina Asher-Smith’s hamstring at that.
High-jumper Morgan Lake came to Oregon, caught Covid, and could not compete.
Pole vaulter Holly Bradshaw had not even started when her competition ended. A practice vault and her pole snapped, resulting in a fall that hurt her back.
