Page 33 - Summer2016Gazette

Rio Olympics 2016 31
Disappointment and encouragement in Rio

In the Olympics in Rio
Blackheath and British fans
finally had their chance to
witness two of the Nation’s
rising track stars make
their mark on the greatest
sporting stage of all. Dina
Asher Smith in her first
Olympics at age 20; and in
the mens 200 final and up
against Usain Bolt, Adam
Gemili Captain of the Team
GB athletics squad, and
already a veteran of the 2012
Olympics.
Unfortunately he was edged Adam Gemili planned to start conservatively and then rely on a fast finish.
out into fourth place by
a margin of 3/1000s of a Going into that final he had 20.12, only for the Frenchman
second by France’s Christophe sat down with coach Steve to claim the bronze medal in a
Lemaitre as Andre De Grasse Fudge and planned to start photo finish.
finished second behind the conservatively and then rely Reflecting on his desperate
unassailable Bolt. Gemili on a fast finish. dip for the line, Gemili said:
confessed: “I am heartbroken. Gemili trailed in seventh “I thought it was close. I knew
I put so much into that run place as he came off the bend I was in the mix but it is hard
and getting so close at the in his tight inside lane, but to tell. Lemaitre was on the
end I am absolutely gutted. I finished strongly and then other side of the track so I
was on the inside, I knew Bolt dipped for the line in textbook couldn’t tell what happened.
would go and a lot of others fashion, along with France’s It is probably the worst way
would try and go with him.” Christophe Lemaitre and to go out when you finish in
Churandy fourth. When it’s down to
Martina of the thousandths of a second it is
Netherlands. hard to take.”
Martina was At his post race interview an
clocked at emotional Gemili said “I knew
20.13, but it was me but I saw his name
Gemili and come up and I just fell to the
Lemaitre floor. I gave it so much and
recorded the I know I can run faster but
same time of
today is not about the times, it
is about medals.”
Adam Gemili...
out of the medals However he recovered and
by 3/1000s of a running last in the final of the
second. 4x100m relay Adam anchored