BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - ON Sunday night 5th August 2012, 20 million people throughout the world watched Usain Bolt win Gold in the 100 metres of the 2012 Olympics in imperious fashion on the eve of Jamaica’s 50th Anniversary of Independence.
What unconfined joy this brought to Jamaicans wherever they were during those 9.3 seconds. And the British, who love their Athletics and love Usain, cheered him on as if they were Jamaican.
And over the years the British and other Europeans have warmed to our own Kim Collins, veteran sprinter attending his fifth (yes, fifth !) Olympic Games. Kim became the World 100 metres Champion in 2003 at the World Championships in Paris and has a personal best for the 100 metres of 9.98 seconds.
Somewhere between proudly carrying our Federation’s flag on Friday 27th July 2012 and Saturday 4th August at the Heats of the 100 metres, Kim’s accreditation for attendance at the Games was withdrawn by our National Olympic Committee. When the list of runners for Kim’s Heat 7 came up on the Stadium board all that was stated against his name was “DNS” – “Did Not Start”. What tragic casting aside of our greatest athlete!
How enlightening it would have been to be a fly on the wall at the meeting when the decision was taken to kick Kim out. Was he effectively called to “the Headmaster’s Study” and asked to explain whatever was disturbing “the Headmaster”? Did anyone fight for Kim’s retention? Even those accused of murder have an extended period in which to plead their case.
You see, there is a British Athlete named Phillips Idowu, a member of Team GB, silver medallist at the Beijing Olympics and Team GB’s best Triple Jumper. Over the last few weeks Idowu had absented himself from interaction with the rest of the British Team. He did not attend the pre-Olympics British training stint in Portugal; he did not check in to the Athletes’ Village with the others, and he certainly did not march with the rest of Team GB in the Opening Ceremony.
So, what did the management of Team GB do? Did they remove Idowu’s accreditation? No-o-o……. They put Country above Self, and Country above whatever sulks individual members of GB Management might have had.
And lo, on Tuesday 7th August 2012, Phillips Idowu came out to the rapturous cheers of the crowd for the Qualifying session of the Triple Jump. He came, he jumped, and he did not qualify. But he was given the opportunity to rise or fall on his own performance.
Kim was not given the opportunity to compete and to continue to prove himself on the international stage. There was no drugs infraction, there was no cavorting with a woman who was not his wife. Whatever he is supposed to have done or not done, it is difficult to understand how our Kim could be so summarily cast aside.
A Tragedy in one Act and 100 metres.
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