Page 23 - ARUBA TODAY

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SPORTS Wednesday 7 august 2019

One hurdle too many, Olympic gold medalist Pearson retires

By JOHN PYE An Achilles injury forced the spot, before bounding
AP Sports Writer her to withdraw from the off the track with almost
A day short of her seventh Commonwealth Games kangaroo-like hops en
anniversary as an Olympic in her hometown last year route to her “Is this real?”
champion, Sally Pearson , the morning after carry- live TV interview.
revealed she finally got ing Australia’s flag into the Four years later in London,
the message her body has opening ceremonies on Pearson was expected to
been delivering with in- the Gold Coast. win. She was the fastest
creasing regularity. The Olympic win on Aug. 7, qualifier for the final, and
The 32-year-old Australian, 2012, completed a set after fastest again off the blocks.
who won the 100-meter she’d won her first world ti- This time she narrowly held
hurdles gold medal at Lon- tle in 2011 and was also the off Harper, and dropped to
don in 2012 in an Olympic world indoor champion. It the track to celebrate after
record time despite the came four years after her confirming her victory.
rain, has retired from com- surprising silver at the Bei- It made her Australia’s first
petitive track and field af- jing Olympics launched her Olympic gold medalist on
ter a series of injuries too into the average Australian the track since Cathy Free-
numerous to mention — at sports fan’s consciousness man’s iconic victory in the
least to the public, anyway. because of her exuberant 400 meters at the Sydney
She won’t be going to celebration when the pho- 2000 Games. After Pear-
world championships next to finish results were con- son’s victory in London, she
month in Doha to defend firmed and her funny, emo- said Freeman had been
her title. She won’t be go- tionally raw live broadcast her inspiration, and Free-
ing to the Olympics next Australian athlete Sally Pearson announces her retirement in interview. man returned the favor
year in Tokyo, either. Sydney, Australia, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2019. Pearson, then known as on Tuesday with a tweet:
A self-proclaimed perfec- Associated Press Sally McLellan, was fastest “Congratulations on a stel-
tionist, Pearson said she “See you round.” world title in 2017, that out of the blocks in Lane lar career, Sally! You always
reached the decision after Pearson later told Aus- coming after a coura- 3 in that race. She was performed when it count-
realizing she couldn’t deliv- tralia’s Seven Network: geous comeback from se- in third spot when lead- ed!”
er on her own high expec- “I’m going to hang up my rious hand and arm injuries ing Lolo Jones clipped the On Tuesday, Pearson said
tations. spikes. It’s been 16 years on sustained in a racing fall in penultimate hurdle, stum- the main disappointment
“I’m leaving my sport hap- the Australian team and Rome in 2015, the last few bled and faded to finish about retirement “is that
py, still loving my sport, still my body is just not up to it. years have been competi- seventh. Pearson crossed I won’t become a three-
loving the training, still lov- When you count six injuries tive letdowns for Pearson. just behind Dawn Harper, time Olympian.”
ing competing,” she said this year that no one knows That crash in Rome ended her mouth was agape in “I’ve known for about a
in a video posted on social about, and another whole her chances of competing shock as she looked across week that I would retire,”
media. “But my body has year to go of training for at the world championships to her right at the line. she said. “The decision was
decided that it’s time to let the Olympics to try and win and a hamstring problem When the review of the made with tears in my eyes
it go.” gold, I have major doubts prevented her from trying photo gave her the silver and a lump in my throat,
She ended the 2½-minute that my body will make it.” to defend her Olympic title after a blanket finish, she but I know it’s the right
video with a simple sign off: With the exception of her in Rio in 2016. jumped up and down on time.”q

Carl Lewis backs equal pay for women, calls Trump racist

By LUIS ANDRES HENAO world record-holder in the himself. ... But that doesn’t
Associated Press 100 meters. “My mother mean we can’t fight for
LIMA, Peru (AP) — Nine- was a pioneer.” what is right for people,
time Olympic gold medal- The U.S. national team has and look at others where
ist Carl Lewis said Monday long championed equal they may have missed an
that female athletes de- rights. Players collectively opportunity or may have
serve fair and equal pay filed a lawsuit earlier this been marginalized in their
and criticized President year that alleges discrimi- lifetime.” The U.S. has been
Donald Trump for being nation by the U.S. Soccer reeling from mass shoot-
“racist” and “misogynis- Federation and are seek- ings over the weekend in
tic.” Lewis spoke in the ing pay equitable with El Paso, Texas, and Day-
Peruvian capital of Lima, that of the men’s national ton, Ohio, that killed 31
where he will present the team. people.
100-meter and long jump “The reality is that there’s Trump on Monday called
medals at the Pan Ameri- a lot of prejudice, and a the mass shootings “evil
can Games. He also said lot of prejudice is fear,” he attacks” that are crimes
that he became an ath- said. “We’re afraid to give “against all humanity” and
lete thanks to his mother, the same opportunity be- said unity must replace
who competed in the first cause it gives us a leg up hatred in society.
Pan Am Games in Buenos ... the reality is that it’s no Nine-time Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis, from the United But in recent weeks, Trump
Aires in 1951. different than another ath- States, speaks during a press conference during the Pan has sent racist tweets
“If I didn’t have a strong lete on another team. So, American Games in Lima, Peru, Monday, Aug. 5, 2019. about four women of col-
woman in my life, I wouldn’t yes, I support that.” Associated Press or who serve in Congress.
be sitting here today,” he Lewis also criticized Trump “There are a lot of issues who is prejudiced, and During rallies, he has also
said at a press conference and said Americans have going on,” he said. “We misogynistic, who doesn’t spoken of an “invasion” at
with Leroy Burrell, a former a huge challenge. have a racist president, value anyone outside of the southern border.q