New Zealand’s Olympic committee committed a major gaffe that cost shot putter Valerie Adams her concentration and possibly a gold medal.
The country inexplicably left Adams, the defending gold medal-winning shot putter, off its roster for the 2012 Olympic Games. They learned of the mistake on Sunday — the night before Monday’s event — and pleaded for an emergency amendment from the International Olympic Committee and the International Association of Athletics Federations to let her in.
Adams was cleared and competed, but her focus was not there. She won the silver medal, ending her streak of 24 straight competitions won, and indicated she never felt comfortable.
“It just didn’t feel right today unfortunately. It just didn’t come together,” said Adams, who had to gather herself before coming to speak to New Zealand’s media posse, according to Stuff.
“I put my heart out there trying but unfortunately I walked away with a silver. It was (Nadzeya) Ostapchuk’s day – that’s life, it’s sport.
“It wasn’t a Val’s competition,” she added. “My aggressiveness just wasn’t there like it used to be. I left my heart out there trying to find the aggressiveness in me and it just didn’t come together.”
Olympians already face enough obstacles as it is. They’re on the world’s biggest stage, competing against the world’s top athletes, and playing for their country’s pride. The last thing they need is a distraction like this.
If Adams were a true champion, she would have been able to win regardless of circumstance, but it’s understandable why she’d be upset with her country for mucking up something so simple.
