Hats off to Obadele Thompson for putting on a clinic on how
to finish a 100 meter race.
Dwain Chambers of the UK misjudged the finish line, and dipped and
stumbled at the first white line that he crossed at the end of the
race. Costing himself a probable bronze medal.
Obadele kept his composure and maintained his form, running all the way
through the line in textbook form - and putting himself on the medal
stand.
So many tight races are lost when the competitors start to anticipate the
finish line, dipping etc. - all of which actually slows them down.
One should always keep a cool head and run to an imaginary point 5 or 10
meters past the line, though it is easier said than done.
And always walk the course first, so that you know where the 100M finish
line actually is - many sprint competitors do not have a clue where the
finish stripe is actually located on the track, and the days of the
finishing ribbon are long since gone in the sprints.
Chambers appeared to belong in the "I don't know where it is"
category - Oba did not.
Still, Chambers has a good shot at a medal in the sprint relay.
Tony Craddock
