I cannot let the day go by without a short blog on the Sally Pearson incident of last night. I have been feeling for her all day. As pictures of her flash up on the screen showing her devastation I cannot help but write a few words about what seems to be a terrible process for an elite competitive athlete.
There is no doubt that Sally false started, that is not the issue.
What transpired after must be so devastating and upsetting for her, not to mention farcical. She believed she had won, she believed she was the first Australian women to win since 1974 when Raelene Boyle won gold. She was even allowed to do the victory lap. She then had to wait 4 hours and just as she was getting ready for the medal ceremony was told she was disqualified.
Imagine how she must feel.
On what I would see as the positive side of this debacle, she ran beautifully, she was faster than anyone else; she came home like a steam train and looks to be in excellent form. This has to stand her in good stead for the future.
On Sunday night she will be competing in her main event, the heat for the 100 metre hurdles. I am betting that she will be pretty nervous on the starting line, however if she can transfer the emotion now to determination on Sunday she will hurdle well.
Champions and heroes have the ability to perform in the face of adversity, that is what makes them champions. Sally has the skill, determination and the personality. Let’s see if it is her time for a hurdling gold.
I hope so.
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