McLeod: I am heartbroken
DEFENDING Olympic 110 metres hurdles champion, Jamaica's Omar McLeod, broke his silence for the first time in public following his non-selection for this month's Tokyo Games.
Speaking on the eve of his participation in the 110m hurdles at today's Wanda Diamond League meet in Gateshead, England, McLeod revealed that he was 'heartbroken'.
McLeod who hit the first hurdle and failed to recover to finish eighth in the event was firm in his belief that the schedule was the reason for his misfortune.
"I am very heartbroken and I don't think I was given a fair opportunity to make the team with this ridiculous schedule," McLeod said.
He stated that it was the worst schedule he has encountered in his career. "I have never seen a schedule like this in my entire track and field career. We ran the semi-finals late in the evening and with little recovery we had to reach the track at 5 a.m. the next day for an 8 a.m. final. The country was on a lockdown and there was no food at the hotel so all my team and I had was soup and a salad in the lounge of the hotel," he added.
Had cramps
McLeod again stated that he had cramps just before the final.
"I had severe cramps before the finals and I did not know what to do but I still went out there and competed at the Trials like everyone else as I was obligated to do. This is not how you treat an event with the defending Olympic champion as I was ready to make the team and it was very stupid the way I was treated,", he said.
He said he should have been given a medical exemption.
"For being the most successful person in this event who has won medals at all levels, I think I should have been given a medical exemption as I have seen in the past where others are given that opportunity and I think I should also have been given this opportunity. I don't think the country has my back," he concluded.
Last month, shortly after the Trials, and before the team was selected, Jamaica Administrative Athletic Association (JAAA) first vice-president, Ian Forbes, insisted that their scheduling was in line with World Athletics and the Olympic Games.
"We are very sorry with respect to what happened. But there is a pandemic and there are certain restrictions in terms of curfew, so these are not normal times ...," he said.
Ronald Levy, Damion Thomas and Hansle Parchment will represent Jamaica in the men's 110m hurdles at the Tokyo Olympics.