Gold Medal Winner Booed Tonight !
Hi All WA friends,
I am watching The World Athletics Championships in London, which lasts for 10 days. I have been watching the World Championships, Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games etc for many years.
Usain Bolt is competing in his last championships before retiring, such a popular athlete and genuine guy. Nobody will ever repeat the Gold Medals he has won, the British crowd absolutely love the guy.
We were all waiting and anticipating a final win and Gold Medal for Usain Bolt, in the 100mts sprint. He qualified in his heat, but by his own admission was not good enough. Anyway onto the drama of booing........
Taking part in this 100mts is the USA athlete Justin Gatlin, who had been banned for 4 years for failing a drugs test TWICE. The crowd booed his victory in the heat win and in the final he beat his american colleague, Coleman into second place and Usain Bolt finished in third place. Everyone wanted a fairy tale ending for Usain Bolt but it wasn't to be.
So Justin Gatlin, of the USA won the Gold Medal and is World Champion, but embarrassingly the whole crowd booed very loudly after he crossed the finish line. All Gold Medal winners usually do a lap of honour, he went straight off the athletics track. Usain Bolt winning a Bronze Medal went and did a lap of honour.
You would be forgiven in thinking Usain Bolt had won, the support, cheering, selfie's, hugs and kisses the crowd gave him was incredible.
Tonight was the award ceremony for the 100mts sprint, Usain Bolt got a fantastic noisy cheer, as did the silver medalist Coleman. But when Justin Gatlin was presented with his Gold Medal, the boos rang out.
I have never seen or heard anything like this before in athletics, once a cheat always a cheat ?? What is your views guys and gals.
Hope you are all enjoying your weekend, wherever you have been visiting.
Thank you,
John
Recent Comments
4
I missed the games, John , as I'm back home in Italy visiting my mum, so no sports watching on telly here. But, I'm so sorry to hear that Ussain only came third. Maybe it proves it is time for him to retire. He was a true sportsman, and always with great sense of integrity. I can see him dedicating his next years in promoting that integrity and in condemning use of inhancing drugs in any sport. There couldn't be any better ambassador!!
Should the crowd have cheered Gatlin as winner? On any other occasion, maybe not. But winning over Ussain on his last competition with a stained past, was far too much to live up to. Maybe the crowd on this occasion can be forgiven.
Giulia
Proof and credibility is so important John. Unfortunately he may be finished. Find another pursuit and get it right!
Credibility and honour is everything. Its people like Gatlin who have cheated in the past who keep athletes and their achievements under constant question and suspicion.
Bolt himself has had to endure unprecedented poking, prodding and testing during his career because of people like Gatlin.
So while I would never support the booing as I find it in poor taste and every man is innocent until proven guilt... I can certainly understand the disdain that people must harbour towards Gatlin.
That being said, I have no reason to question his win. It was a relatively slow race and Bolt was not in peak form. I think people would have been happier if it were anyone else but Gatlin.