Got this explanation of the procedure from Mike.
Of course all of this supposition assumes that Godina would be willing
and ready to enter. After his horrible year in the SP (in comparison
to prior years) and the possibility that he might have dropped all
SP-specific training after the Trials to concentrate on the DT, who knows?
On the other hand, the temptation of a likely medal to go next to his
Atlanta silver might be too much for big John to pass up! After all,
even his sub-par year will likely still leave him ranked #4 or #5 in
the world, so you'd think he's a definite medal contender if C.J.
can't throw.
Randy
--
I'd assume the medical staff has the power to examine any athlete and
determine if the athlete is medically able to compete. That would certainly
be their role, in addition to using whatever expertise and methods to get
the athletes to that state. If Hunter is unable to compete, Godina can
still replace him. The protocol for entries has a entry deadline about a
month before the competition starts (August 23, I believe for the Games).
At that time each country can enter FOUR names, ostensibly three to compete
and an alternate. The three (assuming they have "A" qualifiers) then have
to be declared for the actual competition two days prior to the first round
of the event, meaning the decision on Hunter does not have to be made until
September 19 or 20 (first round of the SP is 9/22, but the declarations are
generally due early in morning of the scheduled day, so a decision on
Hunter's status might have to be made the night before). In general, USOC
does not send the alternates, but since Godina is already there to compete
in the DT, he can be subsitituted.
Mike Takaha
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
- Original Message -
From: "R.T." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Thursday, September 07, 2000 3:57 PM
Subject: Re: t-and-f: World Shot Put Champ Hunter Might Miss Olympics
> Don't the U.S. team coaches have the power to seek our an independent
> medical opinion and replace somebody with the 4th place Trials finisher
> if they think the chances of being ready to go in Sydney were nil?
>
> This news report was dated 9/6, before Sydney declarations had to be
> turned in.
> 4th place finisher Godina will already be there in Sydney anyway, right?
>
> RT
>
>
>
>
> On Thu, 7 Sep 2000 07:13:01 EDT, you wrote:
>
> >World Shot Put Champ Hunter Might Miss Olympics
> >
> >By GENE CHERRY
> >.c Reuters
> >
> >RALEIGH, N.C. (Sept. 6) -- World shot put champion C.J. Hunter has
undergone
> >arthroscopic surgery for torn knee cartilage, jeopardizing his
participation
> >in the Sydney Olympics.
> >
> >"It's day-to-day,'' Hunter, the husband of superstar Marion Jones, said
in an
> >interview at North Carolina State University on Wednesday. "I'll be there
> >Sydney, but the question is, how much can I do.''
> >
> >Hunter, one of the Sydney favorites, said he suffered a torn lateral
meniscus
> >in his left knee while lifting weights in London in early August.
> >
> >He did not realize the extent of the injury until the knee gave out at
the
> >Brussels grand prix meeting. He had the knee examined in Berlin and
surgery
> >was scheduled for Sunday, the day after he and Jones returned to the
United
> >States from competitions in Europe.
> >..
>
>
