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FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWKK!!!!
| quote: | CBC SPORTS ONLINE - Perdita Felicien's gold-medal dreams died on Tuesday. She hit the first barrier and went down in the final of the 100-metre hurdles, the Olympic event most anticipated by Canadian sports fans.
"I have no clue what happened," the shaken hurdler told the CBC. "This is my worst nightmare come true. That was my race to lose and I lost it."
American Joanna Hayes won the gold with a time of 12.37 seconds, an Olympic record. Ukrainian Olena Krasovska (12:45) won the silver and American Melissa Morrison (12.56) took the bronze.
Felicien's tumble was particularly shocking because she's renowned as one of the most technically proficient female hurdlers in the world.
Felicien appeared to take off too close to the first hurdle and caught it with her lead leg. She fell to her right and crashed into Russian Irina Shevchenko, who was also knocked out of the race.
Canadian Angela Whyte finished sixth with a time of 12.81.
Felicien was considered a gold-medal favourite heading into the final, in part because some of the strongest competitors in this event didn't make it through preliminaries.
While Hayes celebrated her gold medal, Felicien lay disconsolate on the track. Moments later, she was comforted on the sidelines by 1996 Olympic 100 m champion Donovan Bailey and Charmaine Crooks, a Canadian International Olympic Committee member and former track star.
Jamaican Delloreen Ennis-London beat Felicien at a meet earlier this year, but finished fifth in their heat Monday with a time of 12.60. Ennis-London finished fourth at the 2000 Sydney Games.
Spain's Glory Alozie, who won the silver medal in Sydney while competing for Nigeria, failed to qualify for the final. She finished sixth in Felicien's heat.
Jamaican Brigitte Foster, who won the silver medal at last year's world championships, didn't line up for her heat Tuesday.
Felicien's archrival, Gail Devers, pulled up injured in the first round.
Many observers expected the final to be a showdown between the veteran American and Felicien, who have gone head-to-head in several meets over the past year.
Written by CBC Sports Online staff |
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It's a shame but I'm glad they are taking it so seriously and catching them at least!
