Light the Torch – Beijing Olympics and Other Olympic News

Aussie Relay Runner offers England her Gold

by Sasha Manuel on April 3rd, 2006

Australian runner, Jana Pittman sent a letter of apology to England for what had transpired during the Games and offered them her Gold. It may not fully resolve the issue but it can be considered an admirable gesture. Some locals have already expressed positive feedback, should this offer be real, over the whole incident since it is quite a shame to ruin the spirit of the Games and all it stood for.

Team England got disqualified after Australia’s Athletics Team Managers went to the Commonwealth Games officials to complain about a technicality during the 4 x 400 meter relay race. This happened after England had finished the race ahead of Team Australia.

What was the technicality raised? Runners lined up incorrectly in one of the legs of the relay. England’s Natasha Danvers-Smith took up the wrong position in the third leg of the race. She should have been behind Tamsyn Lewis. Hmmm. They were right about it, though. England can be disqualified for it, and the Games officials ruled on it.

However, it has been said that this thing happens all the time in relay races. Uh, well — it doesn’t make it right but it’s a fact. I wouldn’t be surprised if it happened even in the Olympics. It just wasn’t enough reason for Australia to go imply that England took away the Gold from them. It can be the case if Danvers-Smith blocked Lewis or tried to trip her or something but it was just a technicality.

I agree with Pittman’s statement that England were the true winners of the race. For the rest of the Australian Athletics Team, I feel they’ve shown unsportsman-like conduct and clear disregard to the Games spirit. They looked like individuals who were in it for personal gain.

Source: BBC | ABC.

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POSTED IN: Athletics, Light the Torch, Olympic News